User:Jsm5321

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Extra Credit Blogs

A) The printing of 3D electronics and sensors uses a great deal of similar technology as the RepRap systems do, and in many ways, the ability to print sensors and electronics directly into the system practically makes these printing systems RepRap’s older brother. Like the article suggests, this technology will greatly allow for users and consumers to adapt and design their products to fully meet their needs, stating that these printers would be capable of “…making products such as personal electronics a lot more individualised and unique and in the process reducing electronic waste.” Consumers who are able to design and print devices such as remote controls, or other electronic inputs that are completely fulfilling of their needs will then create products that have no wasted features or components, and overall will have a great impact on how these devices are conceived in the future.

I think that the application of these printers also have a great value outside the consumer sphere and in the educational sphere, where students who are granted access to this technology gain a huge advantage in being able to have hands-on experience with technology that is being designed and implemented in big name firms and universities as one of the leading technologies in materials science and engineering. In addition, the unification of the printing process with the electronic components helps reduce the number of steps and the cost involved with printing more complex objects, making these printers more accessible in educational settings, many of which are facing strict budget cuts.

B) I believe that this class has a nice balance of lecture and lab time, though I do think that some of the open lab and printing requirements are weighted heavily in that direction. Often time, I found that much of my open lab and free time was spent printing projects that took multiple attempts and several hours to complete properly. Because of this, I did feel that the time spent in this aspect of the course greatly outweighed my time spent in the lecture area of the course.

In regards to the legitimacy of this class, I do believe that as an engineering student it taught me a great deal, and helped give me experience in technology that I could be seeing and utilizing in the future for my career. As such, I appreciate the time and effort that I put into this course because it gave me a great deal of hands-on experience that I can bring forth to potential employers, and have an advantage over others in the same field as me who did not have a chance to have this type of understanding from their undergraduate program.

C) I think that one of the benefits of this class is that it provides a great chance to learn about and utilize a leading technology from the real world, and to gain a large amount of practical experience using it, outside of an internship setting, and allowing us as students to see both the professional and academic merits of the technology at the same time. From my time in this course, I developed a strong appreciation for both the RepRap systems, and 3D printing as a whole because I was able to garner a first hand opinion of the technology and its strong points and faults through my own use of the systems for course assignments. Had I not taken this course, and was to learn about this technology in a professional setting, I do not think that I would have appreciated it as much because I would only be getting a very one dimensional understanding of the technology.

D) The technology that the RepRaps present is of value to a wide variety of Penn State students and departments, despite the initial thought of it being that it is only for engineering students. The ability for students to think up, design, and create 3D models on their own for their own educational supplement presents a great deal of benefit for students of all areas. Students of biology and chemistry would benefit from being able to print, view, and hold complex molecules in their hands, and to view the structure of these molecules in much greater detail and depth than they would be able to with traditional 2D pictures and diagrams. Engineering students of all focuses would be able to design and prototype their designs and projects themselves without the need to outsource, and would be able to understand the flaws and problems with their designs in a more timely fashion, allowing them to change the way they conceive ideas, and understand the fabrication process.

These in combination with an efficient polymer recycling system would allow students to recycle prints that they have made, and keep the supply of materials for the printers constant. Of course, this does in turn have its own downfalls. Because the printers would not fall under the jurisdiction of any one particular department, the University would have to find the funds and persons able to run and maintain the printing stations, and to provide support to the students using the systems. The university would also have to implement some way of training students in how to use the printers to ensure that they are used properly and with care. This puts the project back into the same boat as the proposal in that the funds needed to maintain this would need to come from somewhere, and despite the benefits that this technology would present to the student body at large, would result in either a charge for the use on behalf of the students, or would require the various departments that support the implementation of this technology to share the cost.

E) As an engineering student, I can definitely see my department interested in helping to sustain this course, as it provides an opportunity to gain extensive experience in a valuable technology that is proving to be a big innovator in the engineering community. In addition, I believe that the biological sciences and chemistry departments would also be interested in helping to support this course, as the 3D printing technology would be a strong benefit to students of those departments. Also, I foresee that if those departments were to support this course and the 3D printing technology, that they would, in turn, utilize it themselves, particularly in the areas of bio-printing, which is one of the most interesting biotechnology issues to date. By sponsoring this course, they could train students in this technology, and those students could then become major innovators in research done with the bioprinting technology. Of all the departments who could, and should, bring this technology to their curriculums, I believe that these two departments outside of engineering would have the most to gain from supporting both this technology and this course.

F) There exists a strong connection between the 3D printing technology and the sustainability and DIY communities, as this technology serves to foster the creator and innovator in all of us. The more affordable and simple that this technology gets, the more that it enables casual consumers to be able to enter the field, and to design and print their own products and devices that fit their specific needs, which in turn reduces the amount of electronic waste and need for people to go out and consume existing devices when they could just create their own. Combining home 3D printing systems with an efficient recycling system only helps to reduce the amount of waste the average household would generate by taking plastics and materials that come into the home, and recycling them to be used to create things that go back into the home in a different form and with a different purpose.

G) I think this is one of the more interesting large-scale applications of 3D printing that I have seen throughout my time in the course. I think that this could be a major revolution to the condition of living for many aspects of not only the US, but the world as a whole, especially in third world countries, where living conditions are worst and are a major factor of human deaths. I think that this technology would be of large benefit and should be a major focus of the developed countries to implement across the world. While I do not foresee this technology being of large use at first in countries like the US, I could imagine living in a 3D printed house, as they could be the future of economic housing, and would be ideal for lower income areas, as the costs associated with their construction, as stated in the video, would be between 20 and 50% less for materials and labour. The convenience of having every aspect of the house assembled at once is a very interesting and appealing concept, and I would be very curious to see how early prototypes of these machines and systems would conquer the challenge of building not only the house itself, but also the electrical and plumbing infrastructures that would need to go into each house.

BLOG 14

Of the three designs provided, the Filabot system seems to have several advantages over the other two designs. The current Filabot system prototype is much more effective at recycling a wider variety of materials, as it can grind and melt HDPE, LDPE, PET, ABS, NYLON 101, and PLA. Conversely, the RecycleBot v2.2 is limited to only HDPE, and the Lyman Model, while the designer believes it can melt any material when programmed to the proper settings, is not currently equipped to do so with precision. The two other designs have limitations in different areas as well, such as the Lyman model requiring the filament material to hang off the edge of the table and coil on the floor in to avoid kinking of the filament at the nozzle. The Lyman model also requires about an hour for its start up process, in order for the machine to heat up and the PID to stabilize. Of the three, the Filabot system seems the most polished and versatile system, and would be the best investment in this generation of filamentous recycling systems.

A successful recycling system could have a huge impact on the DIY community because it would help reduce the cost of owning and operating a printer by allowing users to melt and recycle plastics and materials they already consume throughout their daily lives and use them as source material for their printing projects. This allows users who are unsure about the cost of ownership of a 3D printing system to own one with a significantly lower amount of external costs. Recycling systems could also allow users to reuses prints that feature errors or mistakes, reducing the amount of material and money that is lost when errors or redesigns occur, making the overall prototyping process much more cost effective.

From the designs provided, it does not seem that each filament recycler would be difficult to build, as they all seem to feature the same main components and can be built using materials that are easily accessible, and for a low cost at that. I believe that while the basic recycling systems would not be difficult to build, having a highly efficient and effective recycler would be harder for the average user to design and build on their own.


BLOG 13

One of the most interesting and truly promising aspects of 3D printing that I have come across is the concept of bio- and organ-printing. Not only has the implementation of rapid prototyping revolutionize the drafting and prototyping processes for engineers, but it has also enabled radical medical developments, and is bringing forth the opportunity to help patients with a wide variety of conditions and ailments while also eliminating the need for human donors. To me, the idea of using something as simple as a printer to create and build structures of human cells that can, in turn, be placed into a person to possibly save their lives represents the true purpose of engineering and human ingenuity.

Moreover, the development of these “bioprinters” has also allowed biotechnologists to really gain an understanding of the true potential of these printers. For instance, researchers at Clemson University have discovered, using a modified consumer printer, that certain printing methods for cell solutions will disrupt cell membranes and allow them to insert molecules inside of the cells, and observe the reactions of the cells, further opening the variety of uses for the products of these printers.[1] I hope that the expansion of this technology continues and will eventually reach a point where we can design and grow fully functioning organs for replacement and transplantation, greatly reducing the number of people that die from diseases and cancers, and also enabling them to receive faster care, as they would no longer need to wait on long donor request lists.

BLOG 12

The idea of using 3D printing technology to produce novelty items, rather than engineering materials is definitely a unique way to utilize the functions of a 3D printer; however I think it a rather limited scope. Outside of being a unique and most likely touristy attraction, I do not foresee the 3D photobooth overtaking the traditional style booth, at least not in its current state. The limitations of the current generation 3D printing technology make it a very costly process to create these 3D figurines, in both a monetary and time sense. The article on The Guardian cites that it takes nearly 15 minutes of scanning, in which the subjects must remain statuesque, and produces a product that costs several hundred Euros. While it would be an exclusive club to be in to own some of the first 3D models of yourself, I imagine that the steep price tag would be a significant deterrent for the causal consumer.[2]

I could see myself purchasing a model of myself. The idea strikes me as a truly interesting way to capture memories, particularly of people, and I think that when the technology is developed and implemented in a way that is more consumer friendly, I could be an avid shopper for models of this sort. I do believe it will be a big hit with parents, albeit rich parents, who can capture fleeting childhood moments in a third dimension to reflect on later in life.

The business model of utilizing 3D printing in creating consumer models is unique in that it exists in a field that has little current competition, making for probably success, though its market scope is rather limited, as is its potential clientele. I do think that in the future, 3D photo printing can and will be a large part of the novelty market, though ultimately, I do not know how successful the trend may be. The ultimate factor in the success of these novelties comes from the ability to manage the costs required to purchase these figures. A large part of keeping costs manageable does come from the advancement of technologies, but it also exists as part of competition between vendors. As the technology develops and becomes more accessible, more vendors will be able to offer these services, and by increased supply, will drive down prices.

BLOG 11

After reading the following articles:[3], [4], [5], I agree with all three, in that 3D printing can, and will be a huge innovation in how students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) focused areas will be learning in just a short time. Being able to bring models and objects into the students learning environment will only benefit the students because they will be able to both design and test their own ideas, whilst also having access to predesigned materials that they can compare and use to supplement books and diagrams in the classroom.

Particularly, younger science and engineering students will suddenly have access to models of molecules and chemical substances that make envisioning chemical bonds and reactions much easier than drawing them on paper, as well as being able to design and prototype working gears and mechanisms in a singular unit. Allowing younger students to have access to this technology will accelerate learning, and will (hopefully) give students an advantage when they enter the higher education field because they have the knowledge and experience working with materials of this sort.

Personally, exposure to 3D printing technology during my high school time really changed the way that I approached engineering tasks and helped to develop my thought and design process. Students, especially at young ages, strongly benefit from the ability to view and use models and figures in three dimensions, and it would be helpful for schools in the future to being giving students access to 3D printing in the K-12 levels.

BLOG 10

As the development and spread of 3D printing technology continues to grow, the most significant changes will come as a result of industries that are able to implement and cultivate unique uses for their needs of the technology. As specialization of tasks and jobs for the printers grows with each industry that absorbs this technology, we will see the ability of complete customization of the products produced. Excellent examples of this are currently seen in the bioprinting industry, where specialization and individuality of products are especially important, as these printers must be able to grow and produce living organisms capable of being transplanted into living patients, whose bodies in turn must be able to work with the produced tissues and cells.

Other industries, I believe, will find uses and needs to this same level of individualization of products as well. A secondary result of the need for specialized products is the widening availability of printable materials and methods for printing, which as the technology evolves, will certainly be required to keep up with the demand of consumers and designers. I believe that ultimately the changes that we will observe in the future with 3D printing technology will be a direct result of the demand and desire to mold and grow the technology, as well as the demand of industries to utilize it. If at some time in the future a new method comes into existence, we could see the death of 3D printing/additive manufacturing before it ever gets to its peak potential.

BLOG 9

Under the direction of Tod Colegrove, the University of Nevada's DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library has been transformed into an innovative Think Tank thanks to the introduction of 3D printing and scanning technology. The two printers, a Stratasys uPrint SE Plus and a hobbyist 3DTouch machine, have been in constant operation from their respective unveiling.

According to Colegrove, "It's really heartwarming to see just how backed up the machines are," and for good reason. His devotion to procuring and providing the printer services to the general school population has developed into an effective resource for students of all disciplines to express their creativity in designing and prototyping just about anything you can imagine.

Libraries, assuming their original intention of being centres of discussion and innovation, would be perfect hosts for 3D printers. Their availability would dramatically change the way that students are able to learn and perceive coursework and projects. The implementation of 3D printers for student and public use in libraries would be beneficial to all parties because it would allow students the chance to bring their learning to tangible reality. Students especially would greatly benefit from the ability to have complex organic molecules, or gearbox designs where they can truly get a grasp on the complexities of a three-dimensional world rather than the limitations of pictures.

Though not easy, I do believe that it would be plausible and practical to bring 3D printers into University and public libraries across the country. The most noticeable barriers to this process being both the cost of purchasing, supplying, and maintaining the machines and the need to have trained and informed staff to provide support and instructions on using the equipment. As noted in this article[6] , libraries are known for having a helpful staff of people who are knowledgeable and able to provide assistance with the equipment in the library, which would be especially necessary for the deployment of 3D printers and scanners. As such, in their current state, I do not believe that libraries are ready to welcome this new technology into their doors because, as Colegrove discusses here[7], libraries have evolved into quiet and restrictive places of study, rather than lively areas of debate and elaboration that they were originally conceived to be.

Through my time here at Penn State, I have become familiar with the Pattee and Paterno Libraries, of which I believe both to be good candidates for hosts of 3D printing systems. These libraries are hubs of information for students of all subjects, and who could all, in some way or another, be able to benefit from the use of 3D printing. Whether it be the printing of biological models and structures for students studying chemistry or medicine, or engineering students generating prototypes for design projects, the uses of a 3D printing system would benefit the entire student body of Penn State and not limit the technology to students of EDSGN 100 or ME 497D.

Many universities across the country are following the example of schools like the University of Nevada and the Fayetteville Free Library[8], and I believe that Penn State would be doing a great service to its students by giving them access to 3D scanning and printing technology that would greatly benefit a university learning experience.

BLOG 8

In reading the Gizmodo article[9], I do believe it supports my theory that even if regulation under a new DRM policy were to go into effect against 3D printers, I don't think the restrictions would be effective. It's almost illogical to place such restrictions on a technology that has such great innovative potential in the way that products are designed and consumed.

Although innovators and designers deserve to have their ideas and technologies protected from explicit theft by consumers, I think that with widespread adoption of 3D printing technology, we will not see widespread pirating of ideas, but rather an expansive appearance of new minds and concepts being introduced into the world by people who have been granted the resources and capability to design and prototype with this technology. DRM laws and policies currently in existence do little to prevent the rampant issue of piracy, and do more to smother the spread and development of industries than they do to protect them.

I think that further restriction on technology that could be beneficial does not stand to protect innovation but instead works to stifle it. As stated in this YouTube video[10], “…it’s not when you order the bicycle, it’s when you design the bicycle.” It goes to show that the future of 3D printing does not need to rely on stealing existing ideas, but rather promoting the consumer's responsibility to progress design.

In turn, I think that there will be little trouble in finding a use for 3D printing technology. As it stands, it already has a strong use in prototyping and design fabrication for a variety of industries. In particular, the medical community is rapidly developing ways to print both synthetic materials to replace lost tissue and bone structures in the body, and even organic materials that will, one day, be able to replace actual cells or even entire structures in the body. Recently, 3D printing has been used to replace the jaw of an elderly woman in Belgium, using a print that took hours compared to the several days a normal implant takes. Professor Jules Poukens of BIOMED, a medical research department at the University of Hasselt says, “The introduction of printed implants can be compared to man’s first venture on the moon: a cautious, but firm step.”[11]

BLOG 7

With the innovation of being able to print now optical sensing devices rather than just passive components, we open up the world of manufacturing to more efficient and less expensive processes. Now, small scale manufacturers can design and print an object that contains light pipes and optical components quickly and efficiently, rapidly advancing the prototyping process and radicalizing the field of 3D printing. It will also help to remove dependence on large scale manufacturers to produce goods. Now we are on the forefront of bringing production to the point of specialized manufacturing based on needs, and eliminating the need to encase electrical and optical components in separate cases. Developments in 3D optical printing also brings forth new structural factors that were previously not available, including using multiple materials in one optical component, building intricate light pipe network inside of other components, and even enabling the combination of mechanical mechanism with optical components. Overall, the integration of optical components with 3D printing will prove to be a huge benefit to the manufacturing world, especially once the shortcomings of the current iterations are worked out[12].

Currently, there are several difficulties that arise with the generation of 3D optical printing that need to be overcome. The first being the issue of light leakage between pipes, that can cause interference and crosstalk between sensors, or that can be distracting to the user. In addition, there are issues with surface finishing, which results from printers that are not capable of printing at high enough resolution (most print about 100 dpi) to avoid holes in the outer structure, and requiring manual finishing.

The applications of 3D optical printers can be extended to a variety of uses, ranging from displays and small-scale projectors to motion and touch input. 3D optical printing, when the technique of printing advances ever so slightly, can be used to radicalize the way we interact with input devices and Object-Surface interactions. It would also eliminate the need to purchase buttons and stops as separate objects as now they can be designed and printed right into the system as a whole.

BLOG 6

While 3D printing is already in limited use in the medical field to print bone and other structures to replace damaged or missing parts of the body, the technology could soon be ready to print live cells and organic structures, including organs, to be transplanted into humans. These biological 3D printers would print layers of cells and protein solutions that are incubated and nourished, turning into functioning, living organic tissues. The technology as it exists now is capable of producing sections of arteries that are readily available in a matter of hours and can then be transplanted into heart patients, at much more effective rates than typical bypass procedures[13]. I think that this will become a great benefit to the medical population and the global community at large, especially when the technology gets to the point of growing entire organs, eliminating the need for transplant lists.

Though this technology delivers great promise and hope for a medical revolution, it does present some issues for scientists to overcome before we are ready to start growing new hearts and livers for the ill. The most glaring problem with going beyond the skin and vertebral tissues that are already commonplace in the medical community is the complexity of organic structures that are larger, specifically overcoming intricate vascular networks that exist inside organs like the kidneys and the heart[14]. Aside from being an enormous medical problem, it also creates a large legal risk for doctors who, with the slightest error in printing or growth of these organs, open themselves up to large liability and malpractice issues. The implementation of this technology into hospitals and regular practice would not only be extremely expensive, but would dramatically increase malpractice insurance costs for doctors and hospitals alike. Until the time comes when the growing of organs can be a flawless process, which given the nature of biology as an imperfect science seems to be close to never, I do not see large organ bioprinting coming to fruition, though the thought is reassuring that it could some day.

BLOG 5

1) Defense Distributed has devoted too much time and energy into the DIY gun project to give up now. If the $20,000 dollars they raised is any indication, there is a strong public following behind their philosophy in creating a RepRap weapon. The next plan of action is to alter their design to make it completely legal; while Cody Wilson is within his rights to manufacture the pistol himself, the project is in clear violation of the Undetectable Firearms Act. This could be as easy as adding a metallic element similar to Guslick's design. That way, if Wilson has another rented 3D printer seized in the future, he has grounds to defend himself legally.

2) I am hesitant to believe that there is an effective way to regulate 3D printing by means of DRM or otherwise. Similar to how easily any teenager can circumvent countless copyright laws and media piracy restrictions, I'm skeptical in picturing a world where open source hardware/software is readily available AND effectively regulated in the digital scheme.

Having said that, gun control is such a controversial topic outside of the 3D printing landscape that it won't be long before Federal, State, and Local governments catch wind of similar RepRap weapons initiatives and subsequently launch a very publicized political crusade to fight it. What makes Cody Wilson's situation interesting is that he has every right to produce and freely distribute a RepRap pistol if he incorporates a detectable element into the design. Additionally, the theory that the plastic pistol will melt after one shot defends his philosophy further. It shows that Wilson does not intend to create chaos.

Whatever the case may be, governments and corporations will do anything to save face with the public. There's bound to be widespread public outcry, mandates, legislations, lawsuits, and the works surrounding this issue. Regulations will arise and cause a big ol' mess in the world of 3D printing. Let's try to enjoy the moment while it lasts.

3) The following is a listing of 3D printable objects that have a strong probability of regulation or prohibition.

CAUTION: Do NOT print these at home:

- Medical Devices/Medication/Prescription Containers(syringes, pill bottles, etc.) - Fireworks - Aerosol Cans/Spray Bottles - Lighters/Matches - Textiles (Maybe one Day) - Trademarked/Copyrighted Materials - Cosmetics - Counterintelligence Items (Lockpicks, Surveillance Equipment, etc.) - Currency/Counterfeiting

Thank you. Have a nice day.

BLOG 4

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. According to HackaDay's blog post, owners of Makerbot are frustrated about people violating the integrity of open source technology and claiming it as their own. More specifically, developers of TangiBot developed a Makerbot cloned and were selling it for about $700 less than that of Makerbot. That's just messed up. I want to believe that everyone has good intentions, but there are countless examples that prove otherwise. This is another. While the open source movement has spread to its present popularity by-and-large by people who genuinely believe in the heart and soul of open-sourcing to better the common good, there exists an ever-increasing probability that viruses will arise and leach off of and profit from the hard work of open-sourcers. While Makerbot is technically violating the unwritten decrees of open-source, their actions are justified. As I discussed in last week's posting, I believe that prominent instances in the human history experience peaks and valleys. Maybe the open-source movement has already reached its peak, or maybe this will be a rallying point for the majority who believe in it. Either way, Prusa is entitled to his action as well, and I don't blame him.

Ultimately, despite the underlying pessimism that exudes from my post thus far, I do think that this will be a small blip in the world of open source. The movement will rally behind its backing and be stronger than ever. Although Makerbot is a strong figure in 3D printing, people will take them as the example of what not to do; this is what I want to believe.

BLOG 3

1) 3D printer technology is relatively new, and as such, the concept of open-source licensing has worked very well thus far. In primitive stages of technological development, people are more inclined to share ideas and gather information from others in order to utilize expertise and skills they do not personally possess. As that same technology improves, however, the scene shifts dramatically. People begin to imagine great success and wealth stemming from the technology at hand and they may decide to horde it for themselves through patents and copyrights. Recently, developers of the Replicator 2 have initiated this stage of development by closing source. Additionally, these trends are reflected in Kirby Ferguson's TED Talk, Embrace the Remix. He shares that in 1996, Steve Jobs openly admitted that great artists steal ideas from others, just as Jobs has done; shift to 2010, and he verbally berates Android claiming they stole his technology.

In short, you love to steal when you have nothing, but fight to keep when you have everything.

2) My passion is art. I love to draw, and when I can find the time or inspiration, there's no stopping me. In the deepest recesses of my mind, I may believe there are women in this world that find artistic ability to be a redeeming quality of a potential suitor. In all seriousness, I find that people genuinely love to be given artwork personally crafted to please them. That's my favorite part. If I were able to refine my abilities and people liked my work, there may very well be a market for it. However, open-source artwork may be difficult...

3) Feeding off my blog response for question 1, although I do believe technological advancement trends towards backstabbing and name-calling, the realm of 3D printing has a different aura. 3D printing has a strong potential to end intellectual property because people may begin to realize how dependent we are on one another. As Ferguson emphasizes in Embrace the Remix, everything is a remix. Everything taught to our youth is something someone else learned, developed, or discovered already. Technological advancement hinges upon understanding the current technology, developing inventive ideas to better that technology, and having resources available to physically produce it. Open source 3D printing greatly accelerates this advancement. As more people come to realize these concepts, the end of intellectual property may be close at hand.

BLOG 2

1) Practically speaking, the idea of a Universal Constructor (a machine that will both self-replicate and self-assemble) is not plausible with current RepRap technology. Assembly requires many steps, solutions to unforeseen obstacles, and fine-tuning that's unique to each machine. Programming a parent RepRap that will print all parts for a child and simultaneously assemble them into working order would be extremely difficult and most likely require a much larger structural design/electronic capacity.

2) Wealth without money, in my interpretation, means that RepRaps are worth their weight in gold. For as much money as it would cost to buy/produce a 3D printer, over time they pay for themselves and provide a exceptional amount of wealth. This comes as a result of owners being able to print useful objects to replace broken ones or obtain something new, produce new RepRaps and print more things faster, and perhaps even sell their prints to others. The possibilities are endless.

3) At Penn State, I'd imagine the RepRap community will expand significantly in the next few years. With printers spreading to other departments and as more students and faculty get involved, awareness and interest in the product will explode. This will lead to different minds working with the current design, meaning a greater probability that designs will improve. As the RepRap website is edited and made more user-friendly for those not familiar with RepRaps or even technology in general, more people will be able to learn about the machines and eventually work to better them as well. Many circumstances can lead to successful RepRap evolution.

BLOG 1

Useful: How many things can clone themselves? 3D printers have the ability to recreate their own parts to repair damaged elements or develop brand new printers, which I consider to be its most useful adaptation. While you could download a complete part set for the Mendel90 [15], individual printer parts can be extracted from Thingiverse as well, such as boltable PLA bushings [16].

Artistic/Beautiful: I love Legend of Zelda games. If I owned a 3D printer, I would make this Crest of Hyrule mantlepiece [17], or perhaps two, because it's awesome...and artistic/beautiful.

Pointless/Useless: This art sculpture [18] may look nice if it were crafted by an artist, but not with RepRap printing. A 3D printed version would probably require more support material than there is plastic in the actual sculpture, and the end result probably won't be very presentable.

Funny: "Its difficult to perambulate in a haughty manner when you have eight appendages..." [19].

Weird: I'm not sure if this is a model for a box of fries or a batch of machined rods [20]. Either way, I find it weird that anyone would think it necessary to print.