CSI Miami's Magic 3d Printer

Last nights episode of CSI Miami featured the crime solving lab taking a picture of a woman's hand which had been burned by a silencer on a gun. Scanning the picture to create a 3d picture of the silencer and then using a 3d printer to create a replica which helped to solve the case.

CSI shows are known for their future tech. Though they didn't specify a length of time for the operation, it appeared to take a couple seconds to print out a full size model. Obviously in real life this would probably take 24 hours to complete. If they used a 2bot Model Maker they could complete the model in about an hour but by a different process.

Nevertheless it was fun to watch them create a model and use it to solve a crime. No doubt this will become standard practice in the future. CSI Miami is a great crime drama with lots of future tech and creative writing that displays crime solving, if not how it will be, certainly how it should be.

2BOT ModelMaker - Interview - Ero Architects - Eli Ochoa

2Bot's Classroom Model Maker

Watch the amazing 2Bot work in the classroom.

CNN Money's 15 Companies That Will Change The World

Back In 2007 This Article Hit CNNMoney

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Here are the 10 game-changing startups most likely to upend existing industries - and spawn new entrepreneurial opportunities.

 # 13 Desktop Factory

The cost of rapid prototyping machines is already plummeting. Now San Francisco startup Desktop Factory is set to bring out a $5,000 3-D printer, undercutting competitors by 75 percent.

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Many competitors have come along since these early days but they are changing the world.

Star Trek Replicator Roots?

Captain Log 2011; There is no doubt that many great inventions have roots in science fiction, particularly Star Trek seems to inspire many a young inventor.

3d Printing and Model Making reminds users of that great 23rd century invention, the Replicator. You may not be able to produce Romulan Ale, in fact Ironically, 3d printing may not end up being used to make dinner but there are certainly applications in medicine, mechanics, engineering and even space shuttles. Certainly desktop manufacturing is a huge leap forward into the future. Perhaps one day it will help us design our first Warp engine.