[LINK] 3D Print Toilet Parts to Save the Planet?

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Mike writes,

> Pirate Bay has already started a category for 3d model plans:
> http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/24/pirate-bay-physibles-category-3d
> printers/
> 
> And some Canadians are working on a home plastic recycler to provide
> feedstock:
> http://www.springwise.com/style_design/recyclables-3d-printing
> affordable/


Interesting topic. The '3D printing' field is moving amazingly fast

One major 3D resource currently appears to be:  <http://www.3ders.org>

Scrolling down here, one reads of '3D printed' foods (chocolate, sugars, 
hamburgers) false teeth, Paris fashions, guitars and houses & buildings.

Also that on Jan. 18 2013 - "Concept Laser has announced their new Mlab 
3D printer which expands the previous range of materials to include 
titanium and titanium alloys .. Mlab offers a range of ever increasing 
materials to include: gold, silver alloys, bronze, cobalt-chromium alloys 
and stainless steel. New materials which can now also be processed on the 
machine are titanium and titanium alloys such as Rematitan® CL from 
Dentaurum, CL41TI ELI (Ti6Al4V) and pure titanium."

And on Jan.17, 2013: "Lockheed Martin and Sciaky partner on electron beam 
manufacturing for F-35 parts. The cost-effective advantage comes from the 
power density of the electron beam. Their electron beam systems typically
have 42 kilowatts of power through a standard 60/60 electron beam gun."

Also that "iRobot has filed a patent for an autonomous, all-in-one, 3D 
printing, milling, drilling and finishing robot"  That means, hands free.

And this week, "Jan. 21, 2013: China is likely to draw a long-term route 
map for 3D printing technology and to use tax incentives to speed up its 
development, said Bo Su, the Vice Minister of Industry and Information 
Technology of China, at the 6th China National Additive Manufacturing 
Conference in December 2012. Currently, China's Ministry of Industry and 
Information Technology is making 3D printing related strategic plans and 
will announce them after National People's Congress and Chinese People's 
Political Consultative Conference in March, 2013.'

Currently Northern European countries seem to be leaders in the 3D field.

And I'd say, Australia appears to have no time to fart-around apparently.

Cheers,
Stephen