Re: RepRap

> Thanks. The "self replication" stuff shows up all over that website and is
> put forth as a primary benefit, hence my question and comment.
>
> Pete
>

Hi Pete,

I agree with you. No machine can really replicate itself, not even a
Bridgeport. Somebody pointed out the self-replicating aspect of GNU
software, Linux, etc. But even that is not really self-replication. The GNU
tool suite can be _used_ to replicate itself, but you cannot simply push a
button (or type a command) and have it do all the work. It takes a great
deal of knowledge and hard work to build a compiler and an operating system,
no matter how sophisticated the tools. The same is true of machine tools.
Dave Gingery demonstrated that you can bootstrap a machine shop out of
almost nothing, but certainly not while watching Oprah. The only thing that
is self-replicating without hard work is flesh, and I suspect women would
tell you even that is hard work. But men seem to enjoy it.
--
Phil Mattison
http://www.ohmikron.com/
Motors::Drivers::Controllers::Software