As some of you know, I'm not that much of a DIY person myself, but that doesn't mean I can't see or appreciate the efforts of others. Let me introduce you to the RepRap (shorthand for Replicating Rapid Prototyper), which basically is a 3D printer capable of "printing" the parts needed to replicate itself.
If you are lost already, don't worry. If you are thinking "a printer can't print a working copy of itself" you are correct. However, the RepRap is not a common 2D/flat printer that puts ink to paper, but a 3D printer that uses Rapid Prototyping Technology also know as Fused deposition modeling (FDM) to create plastic 3D objects.
Hence, the first printer can print all parts to create a second one - it can replicate itself!
Apart from that fact, all tools needed to build or create a RepRap are freely obtainable, and it would cost about 400 euro to build your first one. However, there is also a RepStrap project being developed that would allow you to build a low budget initial printer which then can be used to create the parts for a more advanced version. All software is available as well and the templates that the printer needs are created using Art of Illusion software, but commercial CAD packages usually also are capable of exporting STL files.
Comments
It's still Chinese to me. It sounds like klooning.
Posted by: Hilda at June 4, 2008 9:02 PM
You could see it as cloning indeed, however, when something is cloned, it has the exact same DNA as it's parent. This obviously is not the case for objects that ain't alive, such as the RepRap.
Posted by: ServMe 
at June 5, 2008 4:53 PM