Is it a bit tragic that I view this as a genuinely exciting discovery?...

[The Elf]

So it went off to the great recycling plant in the sky.

I've not had the courage to buy a 3D printer as yet. Some people say 'dive in , the water's lovely' and others say 'here be dragons'.

Unfortunately I also don't know anyone here with a printer, but as I understand it Thingiverse includes contacts for people who will undertake the printing for you - at a price, of course.

[FrankF]

As an experiment, someone should get a 3D printer to print one of its own internal components, just to see if it develops a paranoid personality.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Can a 3D printer become self-replicating?

[Forum Admin]

Unfortunately I also don't know anyone here with a printer, but as I understand it Thingiverse includes contacts for people who will undertake the printing for you - at a price, of course.

They tend to be found in University labs, so if you can find a student able to, ahem, indulge in his 'project' you might be on to a winner.

[James Perrett]

Can a 3D printer become self-replicating?

Fairly sure there was a 3D printer design a few years ago made almost entirely out of 3D printed parts (or at least that's what a work colleague who knows about these things told me).

Here's one that I found

https://www.sculpteo.com/en/3d-learning ... d-printer/

[FrankF]

Can a 3D printer become self-replicating?

Aah, would that be the famous Narcissus 6, where the replicated parts come out shinier, sexier, and more colourful than the originals?

Talking of PKD, in his "Pay for the Printer" (1956), 3D printers are known as Biltongs, and they're dying out:

In a war-ravaged future, humanity has come to depend on an alien species known as the Biltongs, possessed of the ability to replicate items identically – although the copies only last for a short time. When the Biltongs become decrepit, the humans are forced to rediscover the skill of building. (Wiki)

[Forum Admin]

Talking of PKD, in his "Pay for the Printer" (1956), 3D printers are known as Biltongs

Biltong is being advertised on UK TV with two young actors doing South African accents, badly.

"Biltong" is an abbreviation of "bull tongue" and it looks disgusting! Who wants to eat that as a snack?

https://yoursouthafricanshop.co.uk/collections/biltong

[Drew Stephenson]

I actually really like it. But it is an acquired taste.

[Luke W]

Can a 3D printer become self-replicating?

Fairly sure there was a 3D printer design a few years ago made almost entirely out of 3D printed parts (or at least that's what a work colleague who knows about these things told me).

The beginning of the end...

Everything I've ever learnt from Sci-Fi tells me this is a terrible idea.

[Mixedup]

Unfortunately I also don't know anyone here with a printer, but as I understand it Thingiverse includes contacts for people who will undertake the printing for you - at a price, of course.

My Dad has one... and he's actually not too far from you. But I've not persuaded him to print me anything yet (he's 'learning' by printing a huge working clock, as you do!).

[The Elf]

Unfortunately I also don't know anyone here with a printer, but as I understand it Thingiverse includes contacts for people who will undertake the printing for you - at a price, of course.

My Dad has one... and he's actually not too far from you. But I've not persuaded him to print me anything yet (he's 'learning' by printing a huge working clock, as you do!).

[Sam Spoons]

My Dad has one...

....he's 'learning' by printing a huge working clock, as you do!

He'll be taking his time then?

Is that my coat?

[Forum Admin]

He'll be taking his time then?

Classic!

[Airfix]

Self replication is easy peasy lemon squeezy - However -- it requires biological assembly bots

[Airfix]

i nearly bought a 3d printer many times - it must be the lego guy in me - you need an outdoor place as they stink and they are noxous - - i might yet relent and get one for fun - lego mindstorms crazy - great for bots

[Mixedup]

My Dad has one...

....he's 'learning' by printing a huge working clock, as you do!

He'll be taking his time then?

Is that my coat?

Yeah. He needs a hand...