3D printing

3D Printers?
"Printing" seems like the wrong word. Feed it a digital schematic and poof! out comes your object in its 3D splendor. The "printers" do exist and with them a growing community of makers and hackers on the cutting edge of technology: big thinkers imagining home "factories" made possible with 3D printers and specs downloaded via the internet, and maker activists envisioning  low-budget high-tech fab labs or hacker spaces in every community. Right now your basic makerbot starts at around $500. It won't be long before public libraries have some room set aside for personal manufacturing. Wait a second! This just in...the Fayetteville (NY) Library began its fab lab several months ago!
--RL