3-D Printer Creates Buildings From Dust and Glue 139
An anonymous reader writes "D-Shape, an innovative new 3-D printer, builds solid structures like sculptures, furniture, even buildings from the ground up. The device relies on sand and magnesium glue to actually build structures layer by layer from solid stone. The designer, Enrico Dini, is even talking with various organizations about making the printer compatible with moon dust, paving the way for an instant moonbase!"
first use (Score:3, Insightful)
I want a Fred Flintstone house.
Moondust-From Wikipedia (Score:1, Insightful)
There are concerns that the dust found on the lunar surface could cause harmful effects on any manned outpost technology and crew members:
Abrasive nature of the dust particles may rub and wear down surfaces through friction;
Negative effect on coatings used on gaskets to seal equipment from space, optical lenses that include solar panels and windows as well as wiring;
Possible damage to an astronaut's lungs, nervous, and cardiovascular systems.
The principles of astronautical hygiene should be used to assess the risks of exposure to lunar dust during exploration on the Moon's surface and thereby determine the most appropriate measures to control exposure. These would include for example, removing the spacesuit in a three stage airlock, vacuuming the suit before removal, using local exhaust ventilation with a high efficiency particulate filter to remove any dust in the space craft's atmosphere etc (Ref: Dr J R Cain presentation "The application of astronautical hygiene to protect the health of astronauts", UK Space Biomedicine Association Conference 2009, Downing College, University of Cambridge).
The harmful properties of the lunar dust are not well known. However, based on studies of dust found on Earth, it is expected that exposure to lunar dust will result in greater risks to health both from direct exposure (acute) and if exposure is over time (chronic). This is because lunar dust is more chemically reactive and has larger surface areas composed of sharper jagged edges than Earth dust (Ref: Dr John R Cain, "Moon dust - a danger to lunar explorers" , Spaceflight, Vol 52, February 2010, pp60 - 65).
Can you say bad Idea?
Re:Beyond 2000 comes to life (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, but is it a solution to the problem of people replying to junk posts to get higher page placement? Putting things in context is a highly efficient organizational skill.
Re:Beyond 2000 comes to life (Score:3, Insightful)
Beyond 2000? How about a Star Trek replicator?
Has anyone thought about the social implications? A Star Trek replicator would make real, concrete objects as easy to duplicate as intellectual property is now. We'll be in for a fantastic social upheaval.
Paving the way ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Not paying, PAVING.
God do you people even think about what you're typing or saying when you use phrases like this? Did it ever once occur to you to think about what you're saying and how much sense it makes?
Re:Moondust-From Wikipedia (Score:2, Insightful)
I get your point that insulation in home construction is very different from construction with moon dust, however I do feel like I should make this one point:
in practice of construction, there will always be some holes in it.
If there is one group of people that ought to be very talented at building things that don't have holes, its astronauts.
It's The End Of The World As We Know It (Score:2, Insightful)
Get to the choppah! Naow!!
Re:Beyond 2000 comes to life (Score:2, Insightful)
That's only true for a replicator that is unlimited. If the replicator had imperfections, what you say is nonsense.
Maybe cost of energy would be the defining criterium for the cost of goods (that would be about the same situation as today, energy input is the most highly correlated property to the price of a good).
If it was only able to re-arrange atoms you would still need mines to get to the necessary minerals, and many things would remain rare (e.g. you wouldn't be able to make gold jewels any cheaper).
If it required at least the same mass as input to create an object, that too would create scarcity, requiring again an economy (though probably different than today's)
The world would hardly be different, and we'd still need the economy to supply us.