Any of you guys ever watch Star Trek? Remember the "replicators" that produced food, clothing, etc by re-organizing matter at a molecular level?

Well, somebody has invented something VERY similar. Here is a link to the USA Today article and a couple quotes from it. This technology could totally change the way we design and buy fishing tackle.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/maney/2005-06-14-replicator_x.htm


"...The other day, I met Thomas Mino, CEO of a nanotech company called Lumera. It can change the molecules in a plastic to give it different properties, depending on whether it will be used in radio antennas, circuits for computer chips or devices for drug research. If nanotech factories can build plastic products one molecule at a time, why couldn't that capability someday sit in your office?"

"...In 2020 or so, you might be ready to play Wiffle ball with your kids but can't find the ball. So you'd go on the Web, perhaps finding a Wiffle ball design that's been modified by a aerodynamics graduate student so the ball dips like a Roger Clemens slider.

You'd download the design the way you download a PDF file today. Then instead of clicking "print," you'd click "fab."

The computer would dump the design into your fabricator, which would spray molecules from a cartridge to form the ball. A small fee for the design would get charged to your PayPal account..."

Freakin' COOL, huh!?
Chris

that crazy i wonder if lures will be more expensive

> This technology could totally change the way we design and buy fishing tackle.

That technology is already in use. I know of one overseas lure manufacturing plant that uses it to fabricate prototypes for the various brands they OEM for....

You may be thinking of what is mentioned in the quote below.

"It might be hard to accept that a machine will rearrange atoms into 3D products. But there are precedents. If you go into many research and development labs, you'll find a rapid prototyping machine that can make a 3D form out of plastic powder or liquid. "

Just curious cuz I think this "fabricator" tech is brand spankin new. But hey, maybe they are using it.

Anyway, I just think this tech is very VERY cool because it potentially can even the playing field for lure designers. Once the technology is established, companies who import lures made with cheap labor could be SOL cuz it might be no more expensive to "fab" a new bait right off your own computer! And no need to wait for shipping... just in time for that big tournament.

I wonder if stock is available in that company??? $$$ }(

Chris

We have a deal here where I work that does this sorta thing. You put the dimensional data into it and it spits out a 3D model of your part.