MakerBot achieves self-replication, prints MakerBot offspring

3D Printing & Imaging
MakerBot achieves self-replication, prints MakerBot offspring
3d_printed_makerbot.jpg

Want a MakerBot? Now you can just print one! Christian Arnø (Thingiverse member Webca) designed this 3D printed full size MakerBot, constructing the chassis out of glued-together sections of printed plastic instead of laser-cut wood. I can’t imagine this is the most efficient way to build a MakerBot, but it does mean that the Cupcake CNC is now capable of replicating itself! The photos of it look beautiful, though I would love to see some video of it printing. Extra points for the white MakerBot logo on the front.

The RepRap is not the only 3d printer that can replicate itself, now the Makerbot can to.
This Makerbot is made out of approximately 150 individual pieces that is printed on (yes, you guessed it!) a Makerbot.
My Makerbot worked hard every day for about a month straight to finish this project, and I am immensely happy about the end result.

[thanks, Marty!]

12 thoughts on “MakerBot achieves self-replication, prints MakerBot offspring

  1. Stephen says:

    As much as I love projects like the Makerbot, this general love-in is geting out of hand. The article says ‘MakerBot achieves self-replication’, until the thing can make every part, every circuit board, every nut and bolt and assemble itself, it has not achieved self-replication.

    Wikipedia, for example, lists the requirements for Mechanical self-replication as:

    * Obtain construction materials
    * Manufacture new parts including its smallest parts and thinking apparatus
    * Provide a consistent power source
    * Program the new members
    * error correct any mistakes in the offspring

    I look forward to the day when one of these devices achieves true self-replication. I for one will welcome our new machine overlords.

    1. vrandy.myopenid.com says:

      I’ve always felt the same way about the RepRap machine.

      It’s a cool project, but they need to stop hyping the “Self Replication” bit.

      1. MrStaple says:

        You have to understand that using the term “self-replicating” as a goal to shoot for. At this point they might be 10%, 15% or whatever far in achiving that. For them to do this, they have to take any advancement seriously, however small it is. I guess a problem they have to face is whether they would be better off focusing on smaller milestones and “just letting things happen” or doing what they are now, and if this position is going against the Maker philosospy.

  2. PaperSydney says:

    Can you say Cyberdyne?
    Anywho. I’m super happy to see this post. I wish I could ask How you felt throughout the month. anxious, worried, wasteful at times? I can’t even be sure what I’d feel putting that much time into printing the 150 pieces. I’d probley think it sounds like a lone machine in the dark corner of Makerbot industries Pining away at it’s lovely offspring’s frames.. Yeah Seems Like Love to me.. In a borgish kinda way.

    I’m stoked.. I wish to see video aswell, but 150 pieces.. wow..

    Congratulations to the MakerBot staff, and the happy Mommy MakerBot that Gave new Life..

    Sydney

    1. Christian Arnø says:

      Well, during this project i felt overwhelmingly calm, like meditating.
      But one misconception regarding me spending about a month on this project is that i didnt do anything else during this time, so to clear up i spent about four days making all the 3d files and exporting them to stl files for the printer to read. After that it was just a mather of letting the makerbot do what it does best.

      Each piece took about 40 minutes to print, so i had a lot of free time to do anything else;)

  3. Christian Arnø says:

    Well, during this project i felt overwhelmingly calm, like meditating.
    But one misconception regarding me spending about a month on this project is that i didnt do anything else during this time, so to clear up i spent about four days making all the 3d files and exporting them to stl files for the printer to read. After that it was just a mather of letting the makerbot do what it does best.

    Each piece took about 40 minutes to print, so i had a lot of free time to do anything else;)

Comments are closed.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK