Could be very handy for when you need to make up that special something:
The latest episode of The Big Bang Theory aired in the US has two of the characters buying one in order to create action figures of themselves. Then one chap's wife makes him send it back.
These have been around for some time, but think of the cost of consumables!
I know that one was used to make a drones airframe not long ago, as it made the news.
Brian
Commercially, probably at least ten years. I was very impressed when I first got prototype plastic mouldings that had been made one one. I just cannot think of anything I could use one for.
Colin Bignell
Yes, 3D printers are begining to take off. Those are all "toys" though and to some extent I can't help thinking there is a bit of a "solution looking for a problem" at the consumer end of the market.
Some of the industrial 3D printers can make proper useable tools out of ceramics (might even be metal) but these machines don't come cheap.
I've got a couple of 3D sculptures, printed from steel powder with the formed shape soaked in bronze.
You could use it to make plastic parts to build another one ..... :)
When you've bought one, you can have it start making more of them, which start making more of them, which start making... Sourcer's Apprentice
^^^^^^^^^ If that's a typo, it's a bloody good 'un!
Chances are the output would stil be legible.
I wouldn't count on the output of a lot of 3D printers being around in
25 years.MBQ
About 8 grand, according to an online inflation calculator I just used! Wow - hard to believe that computer kit cost so much back then, and what we take for granted now.
I remember buying an Amstrad PCW (which would have been much less powerful than the puniest mobile phone of 2013) for about £400 at the same time; a lot of money but I do remember it being a good deal at the time.
My first computer was a BBC Micro: 32kB of RAM and no disk drives - £399!
Bert
Mine as a NASCOM-1. Z80 processor @ 2.5MHZ, 1k user RAM, 1k video RAM. Programmed in Hex.
My first was an Advance 86b - £1500! 128kB and two 360kB drives.
Corrected link:
I use my 1993 LaserJet 4M+ daily.
The BBC Micro was my third computer, after a Sinclair MK14 and a UK 101 kit.
They were about £3000 when I got the Advance.
I built my first computer in 1977. Z80 (2.5MHz!) with 1kB of RAM for program storage + 1kB of RAM for the video controller (text only but controllable colour). Had to boot it by hand using a bank of switches to enter address and data for the tape reader before it would load from cassette (hacked philips cassette recorder with kansas city interface). I still have a copy of the original (typed!) Mostek Z80 assembler manual.
Andy
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