that was something I never quite understood in star trek.
Like. with Voyager building the Delta Flyer.
What kind of incompetent, useless, dumbass engineers would have technology like replicators*, but then design spaceships that don’t use that to build their own spare parts… or entire shuttles, etc. While we’re at it… why design an exploration starship, whose primary power system wasn’t built around fuels that could be easily replicated (and use transporters to suck in, iunno, astreroids, and then use that energy to produce said easily replicated fuel.)
*Replicators really should be called fabricators. replicators replicate themselves, like in SG:1. fabricators … fabricate other things…
It’s not necessarily that useful, mind you, but at least it’s exciting.
I guess the thing to note is that if you are looking for a project, you probably could create some really good downloadable plans for an e-Bike that could have the key important parts printed on someone else’s SLM metal 3D printer and it wouldn’t even be especially silly or that absurdly priced, which would be a nicer argument for the superiority of bikes over cars if I haven’t been unable to bike because of wrist problems for the past few years.
I remember when that car first showed up. There’s a few problems with it.
First, it’s not something you can print at home- it was printed on a commercial FDM machine large enough to print its entire chassis, and the nozzle is freaking huge.
The next biggest issue with it is that it’s a glorified golf cart. It has no safety rating and likely wouldn’t be allowed to get registered in many places without it.
It’s also quite low to the ground and dangerous to try and drive on roads because it’s hard to see.
Is it cool? Absolutely. But it’s not a car in the same sense many would see a car.
You…wouldn’t download a car, would you?
(Yes. yes I would.)
I would be so happy to dl a car.
that was something I never quite understood in star trek.
Like. with Voyager building the Delta Flyer.
What kind of incompetent, useless, dumbass engineers would have technology like replicators*, but then design spaceships that don’t use that to build their own spare parts… or entire shuttles, etc. While we’re at it… why design an exploration starship, whose primary power system wasn’t built around fuels that could be easily replicated (and use transporters to suck in, iunno, astreroids, and then use that energy to produce said easily replicated fuel.)
*Replicators really should be called fabricators. replicators replicate themselves, like in SG:1. fabricators … fabricate other things…
Apparently the Local Motors Rally Fighter (made by the same folks as the Strati) has downloadable files in this Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/carmodification/comments/kztg6l/localmotors_rallyfighter_plans/?rdt=40977
It’s not necessarily that useful, mind you, but at least it’s exciting.
I guess the thing to note is that if you are looking for a project, you probably could create some really good downloadable plans for an e-Bike that could have the key important parts printed on someone else’s SLM metal 3D printer and it wouldn’t even be especially silly or that absurdly priced, which would be a nicer argument for the superiority of bikes over cars if I haven’t been unable to bike because of wrist problems for the past few years.
Not enough people feel the same way.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strati_(automobile)
I remember when that car first showed up. There’s a few problems with it.
First, it’s not something you can print at home- it was printed on a commercial FDM machine large enough to print its entire chassis, and the nozzle is freaking huge.
The next biggest issue with it is that it’s a glorified golf cart. It has no safety rating and likely wouldn’t be allowed to get registered in many places without it.
It’s also quite low to the ground and dangerous to try and drive on roads because it’s hard to see.
Is it cool? Absolutely. But it’s not a car in the same sense many would see a car.
OTOH, Divergent3D / Czinger Motors has 3D printable (with caveats) hypercars that are more … reasonable?
They also had the Rally Fighter that is street legal in all fifty states.