On Aug 7, 2014, at 8:01 AM, Jeffrey Schwartz <schwartz.jeffrey@gmail.com> wrote:

> Apologies: running pretty rough today. Took doctor prescibed stuff
> last night, waiting for it to wear off. In mean time, brain works
> nice,but body/hands hurt. Typing is rough, means
> grammar/syntax/spelling much lame. But had idea, want to get it  down
> before I forget... and very interested in TML feedback since many
> smart people here.
>
> This is intended as a 3D printer for colony usage. Tech level is
> "Today" - I don't think there's anything in this that we couldn't make
> right now, it'd just be expensive and tricky.

Much ka-snippage.

This is a cool idea, basically a very large deltabot 3D printer.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_robot>

but with more legs.

A couple minor points:

It is possible using a large fresnel lens and sunlight:

<http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/06/markus-kayser-builds-a-solar-powered-3d-printer-that-prints-glass-from-sand-and-a-sun-powered-laser-cutter/>

Second, this will require pretty pure sand; organic matter mixed in will weaken things pretty badly. There’s a reason that the solar sinter project above was done in the middle of a dune field...

--
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs