Hey, who wants to down load a blurg?

Someone's built a machine that can layout molten plastic in layers, sort of like a three dimensional inkjet. One day, we'll be able to download plans from Ikea and build create the parts right there at our desks.

FTA: Dr Bowyer said that: “These days, most people in the developed world run a professional-quality print works, photographic lab and CD-pressing plant in their own house, all courtesy of their home PC. Why shouldn't they also run their own desktop factory capable of making many of the things they presently buy in shops, too?

“The possibilities are endless. Now, people can make exactly what they want. If the design of an existing object does not quite suit their needs, they can easily redesign it on their PC and print that out, instead of making do with a mass-produced second-best design from the shops. They can also print out extra RepRap printers to give to their friends. Then those friends can make what they want too.”

Pretty neat. Seems like reality is going to become more like Second Life. This could also finish off the job of gutting our manufacturing once and for all. Combine this tech with bioplastics and we could be in pretty good shape.