Difference between revisions of "Virtual designs into physical objects/Intro"

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[[Image:CNC pic.jpg|250px|right]] At some point virtual designs such as [[Computer-aided design|CAD]] models, need to be turned into physical objects, which unfortunately isn't as straightforward as downloading software from a website. Building, testing and modifying physical designs requires effort, time and material cost, although with access to emerging flexible computer-controlled manufacturing this complexity and effort becomes drastically reduced and highly repeatable.
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[[Image:Engine part m.jpg|180px|right|3D printed metal engine component]] At some point virtual designs such as [[Free and open-source computer-aided design/What is computer-aided design|Computer-aided design]] (CAD) models, need to be turned into physical objects, which unfortunately isn't as straightforward as downloading software from a website. Building, testing and modifying physical designs requires effort, time and material cost, although with access to emerging flexible computer-controlled manufacturing (digital fabrication) this complexity and effort becomes drastically reduced and highly repeatable.
  
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At the time of writing, humanity is at the peak of a revolution in storing, reproducing and manipulating [[Fundamental resources/Information|information]]. We have technologies that give us an almost godlike command of information, allowing us to bend it according to every whim. Our command of information is decentralized, in the hands of anyone with access to increasingly cheap technology {{em}} and this has created a culture of true abundance in which information is given away freely. What if we could achieve the same mastery over physical objects? What if anyone with some inexpensive kit could conjure up a laptop computer, farm machinery or advanced robots? That is the direction that technology is now evolving in. We discuss here some of the currently-existing technologies for turning virtual designs into physical objects, but it is worth bearing in mind that now - in 2010 - the manufacturing revolution is at the same stage that the computer revolution was at in the 1960s; the technology does exist, but it is bulky, expensive and requires a certain amount of expertise to operate. However, trends of miniturization, [[Open collaborative design|open-sourcing]] and accessibility are proceeding rapidly.
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Some of the ways that collaborative designs created on a computer can be physically forged range from getting your hands dirty and crafting it yourself, to sending the design, or at least parts of it, as an electronic file to an increasing number of computer-controlled manufacturing systems such as [[rapid prototyping machines|rapid prototyping]] or advanced multi-axis {{wp|CNC|CNC machines}} that can accurately create parts in 3D in a variety of materials.
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Ways of physically forging collaborative designs created on a computer range from getting your hands dirty and crafting it yourself to sending the design (or parts of it) as an electronic file to an increasing number of computer-controlled manufacturing systems such as [[rapid prototyping machines|rapid prototyping]] or advanced multi-axis {{wp|CNC|CNC machines}} that can accurately create parts in 3D in a variety of materials.
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What is illustrated in this section is that the world of atoms is starting to catch up with the world of bits in terms of ease of control and duplication. '''We are entering the age of digital manufacturing.''' Objects and machines are boiled down to pure information which can be instantly transmitted around the world and recreated physically wherever these 'fabbers' exist. Here are some of the increasing number of methods available to bring virtual designs to life...
 
What is illustrated in this section is that the world of atoms is starting to catch up with the world of bits in terms of ease of control and duplication. '''We are entering the age of digital manufacturing.''' Objects and machines are boiled down to pure information which can be instantly transmitted around the world and recreated physically wherever these 'fabbers' exist. Here are some of the increasing number of methods available to bring virtual designs to life...

Latest revision as of 00:37, 3 January 2012

3D printed metal engine component
At some point virtual designs such as Computer-aided design (CAD) models, need to be turned into physical objects, which unfortunately isn't as straightforward as downloading software from a website. Building, testing and modifying physical designs requires effort, time and material cost, although with access to emerging flexible computer-controlled manufacturing (digital fabrication) this complexity and effort becomes drastically reduced and highly repeatable.

Some of the ways that collaborative designs created on a computer can be physically forged range from getting your hands dirty and crafting it yourself, to sending the design, or at least parts of it, as an electronic file to an increasing number of computer-controlled manufacturing systems such as rapid prototyping or advanced multi-axis CNC machines 11px-Wikipedia_logo.jpg that can accurately create parts in 3D in a variety of materials.

What is illustrated in this section is that the world of atoms is starting to catch up with the world of bits in terms of ease of control and duplication. We are entering the age of digital manufacturing. Objects and machines are boiled down to pure information which can be instantly transmitted around the world and recreated physically wherever these 'fabbers' exist. Here are some of the increasing number of methods available to bring virtual designs to life...

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