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Yeah. You cannot just buy a $1000 computer and go at it like software. Just think of the work/cost it takes to design stuff like this.

Maybe when 3D printers get better...

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3D printing is already there, its just expensive. Take a look at dmls (direct metal laser sintering - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_laser_sintering )

What you see in the hobbyist 3d printing world is about 10-15 years behind the commercial world.

Sounds awesome - I think some MIT guys are working on something similar with a liquid polymer that hardens with a laser. Are there any inherently very expensive parts of dmls, or is the expense due to low volume/high markups? What are the big barriers to a consumer-level version?

I remember reading an article about how Jay Leno uses 3-D printing to replace hard-to-find parts for his car collection a couple of years ago.

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