When you are placing your survival caches in likely hiding places around the world, do not forget to include a general-purpose, self-replicating 3D printer, along with a comprehensive survival e-library with all the necessary modeling software and plans. You will want a “self-replicating” 3D printer, because after TSHTF — in the middle of TEOTWAWKI — you will need to be running a lot of 3D printers simultaneously, to stay ahead of “the competition.”
Three-dimensional printing has been applied to handguns, rockets, hypersonic jet engines,bicycles, ears, objects d’art, and now submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). Lockheed Martin has announced that the first 3D printed components for an SLBM flew this week on test launches of three unarmed US Navy Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missiles from a submerged submarine in the Atlantic Ocean. The component tests, which were conducted from March 14 to 16, are part of Lockheed’s program to create an all-digital manufacturing process. __http://www.gizmag.com/trident-missile-3d-part/42370/
The 3D Printer that Can Print Itself
Meet the self-replicating rapid prototyper, or RepRap for short. While most 3D printers are extruding doodads and soap dishes, RepRaps spend a lot of their time making other RepRaps. Legions of volunteer engineers have spent the last decade trying to build the first machine that can copy itself. By applying Darwinian logic to technology, they hope to expand the 3D printer’s potential beyond the utilitarian and into the utopian.
3d printers utilise “additive manufacturing” to print everything from firearms to buildings to boats / planes, and even advanced weapons systems such as ground to air missiles and ballistic missiles.
“There are folks in industry printing warheads,” said Danforth. “We are printing demos of many of the seeker components. And we demonstrated a printed rocket motor. We’ve already printed 80 percent of what would go into a missile.”
… Engineers at the Raytheon University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Institute are developing ways to print complex electronic circuits and microwave components – building blocks of sophisticated radars used in products like Raytheon’s Patriot air and missile defense system. __ http://www.raytheon.com/news/feature/3d_printing.html
Your 3D printers will also build your defensive fortifications, aircraft — both piloted and drones — and a wide range of patrol craft and weapons.
Aurora Flight Sciences has announced that it has successfully flown a subscale vehicle demonstrator (SVD) or prototype of its VTOL X-Plane, which was made with the help of 3D printing technologies. The groundbreaking flight, which took place recently at an unspecified U.S. military facility and can be witnessed in the video below, reportedly met a crucial DARPA risk reduction requirement, and successfully demonstrated a series of takeoff, hover, and landing procedures.
Your general purpose 3D printer will be able to replicate itself, but just as importantly, it will be able to produce special-purpose 3D printers capable of printing medicines, replacement skin and organs, and a wide range of specialty materials and chemicals.
The Global Village Construction Set for rebuilding civilisation from scratch, depends upon the initial use of 3D printers in order to construct the 50 critical industrial machines needed to reboot an industrial civilisation.
The Zombie Apocalypse Guide to 3D Printing
: An entry-level book on the broad range of uses for 3D printers, in case of zombie apocalypse.
So remember, for your standard survival cache: Food, water, medicines, materials for making more food and clean water, emergency shelter / clothing, basic weapons, trade goods, navigation and communication aids, — and 3D printer.
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Useful articles on 3D printing from Brian Wang’s NextBigFuture
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