Is it possible to 3D print a Gaming Laptop factory in public storage?

Gizmo j · Jul 14, 2017

I'm not talking about 3D printing the whole laptop itself but instead try to print the type of "factory" that is usually used to manufacturer the laptop, for example:

a Motherboard factory (that has been 3D printed)
a LCD factory (that has been 3D printed)
a RAM factory (that has been 3D printed)

You get what I mean? 3D print the components used to manufacture each individual product instead of the product itself.

and if it is possible how many storage facilities would you think I need? and how much money would you think it would cost altogether?

dullard · Jul 14, 2017

I think you are overestimating the usefulness of 3D printing. We may get there someday, but right now it doesn't do even remotely the amount of things that you'd need it to do.

R0H1T · Jul 14, 2017

The simple answer is NO, the other answer is billions of dollars, with a capital B, assuming even for a moment it's possible.
If it were as simple as 3D printing you wouldn't have the likes of Samsung spend billions of dollars on such facilities ~ http://www.anandtech.com/show/11603...aek-starts-volume-production-of-64layer-vnand

crashtech · Jul 14, 2017

No. Even the manufacture of something relatively simple like a resistor or capacitor is far beyond what an assemblage of 3D printed plastic parts could accomplish.

herm0016 · Jul 14, 2017

its difficult to build some of these things with regular machine tools with precision in the nanometer range. it is impossible to build anything in the micrometer range with current 3d printing tech.

NL5 · Jul 14, 2017

As someone who has worked at a large technology manufacturer, I can say without question that what you are asking about is beyond impossible. Just as an example, the infrastructure you would need to deal with all the chemicals involved would run into the multi-millions. It would be infinitely cheaper to contract the parts from a operating manufacturer.

crashtech · Jul 14, 2017

All that said, it's possible to conceive of a machine that could "print" complicated things molecule by molecule, but that capability, if it ever could be achieved, lies far in the future, and would probably involve nano-assemblers.

DaveSimmons · Jul 14, 2017

In 500 years? Sure. Cost? Eleventy zillion spacebucks.

Kaido · Jul 14, 2017

It's a little bit complicated:

sdifox · Jul 14, 2017

Red Squirrel · Jul 14, 2017

Technically you could 3D print a factory, at least the main structure, using concrete 3D printing. Prefab makes more sense though as there is steel/rebar involved, not sure if concrete 3D printers can use rebar. All the machines on the other hand, not so much. Maybe the machines themselves, but not the installation. Suppose you could in theory 3D print a PLC cabinet and it is just dropped into place and plugged in using a big ass amphenol connector. Or more like 30 of them.

As for the laptop itself most of it is already mostly automated to the point where 3D printing would not make it any faster or cheaper. Pick and place machines, reflow ovens and the entire process is barely touched by human hands, the boards just slide one by one through each phase. This goes for most electronics. Casings and stuff are probably still mostly done with injection molding and such, that is actually more efficient than 3D printing to make a lot of the same thing. 3D printing is more for 1 ofs. Interestingly it has some potential uses in the medical industry as you can replicate something like a bone or joint or tooth so that it's a replica of one being replaced. I'm not sure if it's already being used for such thing, but I could definitely see it.

Suppose if you had a multi component 3D printer that can work at the nanometer level, you could pretty much 3D print an electronic device and it would apply the various silicon composites etc to basically make the semiconductor and electronics built right in. Essentially 3D printing a wafer but built into the product as the other materials would be printed along with it too. Plastic, metal, etc.

Gizmo j · Jul 19, 2017

Metal 3d printers have already been invented....isn't a computer just metal and plastic?

https://www.google.com/search?q=met...UCxFQKHR_7DUQQ_AUICSgA&biw=1366&bih=662&dpr=1

dullard · Jul 19, 2017

Gizmo j said:
Metal 3d printers have already been invented....isn't a computer just metal and plastic?

https://www.google.com/search?q=met...UCxFQKHR_7DUQQ_AUICSgA&biw=1366&bih=662&dpr=1

Computers are metal and plastic. 3D printers can print metal and plastic. But the key is that 3D printers cannot print with the resolution, accuracy, and consistency that is needed.

For example, a fairly good 3D metal printer might at best get you 50 micrometer resolution. Computer chips in 1971 were made in 10 micrometer resolution.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_µm_process
So, today's state of the art 3D printing cannot come close to matching computers made in 1971.

Then there are a lot of other problems from it not actually being a solid piece. My first 3D printed part was essentially a small cup, made to the same dimensions as a standard cup. Water poured right out the sides and bottom. Why? 3D printing isn't solid. It is porous. That may or may not cause you problems. Here are other great examples with pictures showing how 3D printing isn't the same as the real thing:
http://www.engineering.com/3DPrinti...ues-to-Look-Out-for-in-Metal-3D-Printing.aspx

sdifox · Jul 19, 2017

Gizmo j said:
Metal 3d printers have already been invented....isn't a computer just metal and plastic?

https://www.google.com/search?q=met...UCxFQKHR_7DUQQ_AUICSgA&biw=1366&bih=662&dpr=1

Derp

lxskllr · Jul 19, 2017

In private storage maybe. If you do it in public storage, people will see what you're doing, and steal your megahurtz

Ichinisan · Jul 19, 2017

Are there 2 of these threads from you?

Ichinisan · Jul 19, 2017

The other thread:
http://www.portvapes.co.uk/?id=Latest-exam-1Z0-876-Dumps&exid=thread...ing-laptop-factory-in-public-storage.2511137/

Ichinisan said:
CPUs require incredibly precise lithography to cram all those transistors into the package. They're packed so closely that we're approaching theoretical limits due to the size of atoms and molecules. They're developing new ways to narrow the spectrum of the light used in lithography because the wavelength of the photons (light particles) is too big to give the necessary precision. Engineers have already figured ways around numerous barricades to reach this point. Each breakthrough allows smaller and smaller transistors or more closely-packed transistors so they can fit more into the same surface area for improved performance.

No. You can't produce a modern CPU with a 3D printer.

Memory and solid state storage require similar processes and have similar density.

Gizmo j · Jul 19, 2017

I made another thread in the general hardware discussion but a moderator moved it to off topic.

NL5 · Jul 19, 2017

Gizmo j said:
Metal 3d printers have already been invented....isn't a computer just metal and plastic?

Unless you are referring to the case, then no. They are made up of all sorts of other things. Just as a starting point -

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/P–n_junction

Red Squirrel · Jul 19, 2017

Ok wow I thought I was going crazy (ok maybe I still am lol) as I could have sworn I replied already then replied again, so there IS two threads like this. Why?

sdifox · Jul 19, 2017

Red Squirrel said:
Ok wow I thought I was going crazy (ok maybe I still am lol) as I could have sworn I replied already then replied again, so there IS two threads like this. Why?

Cuz the op was 3D printed and it delaminated into two threads.

JulesMaximus · Jul 20, 2017

I work for a company that makes hundreds of millions of dollars a year selling handlers to the companies that make cpus, memory and gpus. The only thing our product does is pick up chips and place them into a tester. We don't even make the testers themselves, those are even more expensive and these are just some of the components that go into manufacturing a laptop.

In short, what you are asking is absolutely ridiculous.

midnight growler · Jul 20, 2017

If it was possible, technologically or financially, someone would have done it already.

Gizmo j · Sep 14, 2017

This is TS, I have another question.

What If I tried to 3D print a 3D printer that could print parts and machinery you need to manufacture a Gaming Laptop?

i'm being serious here!

sdifox · Sep 14, 2017

Gizmo j said:
This is TS, I have another question.

What If I tried to 3D print a 3D printer that could print parts and machinery you need to manufacture a Gaming Laptop?

i'm being serious here!

No you are being dumb. You just upped the complexity.

Is it possible to 3D print a Gaming Laptop factory in public storage?

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