A University of Bath academic [Adrian Bowyer], who oversees a global effort to develop an open-source machine that ‘prints’ three-dimensional objects, is celebrating after the prototype machine succeeded in making a set of its own printed parts. The machine, named RepRap, will be exhibited publicly at the Cheltenham Science Festival (June 4-8, 2008).

RepRap is short for replicating rapid-prototyper; it employs a technique called ‘additive fabrication’. The machine works a bit like a printer, but, rather than squirting ink onto paper, it puts down thin layers of molten plastic which solidify. These layers are built up to make useful 3D objects.

Here's our email interview with Dr. Bowyer.

3D printers, sometimes called Fab Labs, will revolutionize the manufacturing and delivering of material goods the same way that iTunes has revolutionized the distribution of music and movies.

The Reprap's self-replication is not 100% perfect. There are some parts - a few circuit boards and some other metal pieces - that will have to be purchased. Interested hackers can join the RepRap Foundation and buy the nonprintable parts at cost.

The RepRap is probably the simplest possible design for a fab lab, but the fact that it can self-reproduce (and the software to run it is free) means that it will be delivered to the world through the same sort of exponential reproduction that is seen when a living creature is introduced into an ecosystem. It is also expected to evolve as it is adapted by its users to meet certain needs.

RepRap version 1.0 is named Darwin.