Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Amidst these ancient marvels, the RepRap printer has emerged as a dis-
ruptive modern form of product development. Right from the start, RepRap
had two characteristics which made it unique. First, Adrian decided to freely
share the printer's blueprints on the web using an open-source license. He
intentionally did not seek patents on RepRap's design and printing technology.
Second, RepRap was designed with an unusual business strategy in mind: its
users should never, ever have to buy another RepRap again.
The long-term vision was that each RepRap would be able to fabricate
its own replacement parts. This way, spare machine parts could be printed,
not purchased. If a user wanted to create a new RepRap (or a thousand new
RepRaps), she would simply 3D print out its parts on her RepRap and assemble
them herself. Like breeding rabbit populations, replicating RepRaps could re-
produce at an exponential rate.
The concept of machine self-replication is reminiscent of the famous Escher
print that depicts a man drawing a man drawing a man and so on into inin-
ity, until the igures get too small to see. Most machines, even ones whose
blueprints are open-sourced, can't fabricate their own parts. A RepRap printer
(full name Replicating Rapid Prototyper) is the physical version of an iterative
and endless computer algorithm.
Several forms of disruption could result. If a machine could make its own
replacement parts, it would be dificult for any company to claim and enforce
patent rights. Another widely used business strategy—planned obsolescence—
would also fall by the wayside. Some industries beneit if their products break
quickly, but only at the right moment in time. In these cases, engineers calcu-
late how to best design and make a product so it survives long enough to pass
out of warranty, but not much longer. It's not your imagination that products
break shortly after their warranty expires.
When we asked Adrian his views on patents, he said, “One of the things
that many people engaged in so-called conventional business don't seem to
understand is that it's possible to have a company that sells something that
is completely open and you can still make a proit. People say, 'You don't own
any IP. How can you do that?'” He answered his own question: “You have to
ind a way to add value.”
The RepRap project is not against commerce. When he discusses the impact
of freely shared machine designs, Adrian made it clear that patents and copy-
rights should be simply one of several options. In fact, at the time of this writ-
ing, Adrian was wrapping up his inal semester at the University of Bath and
making plans to launch a startup selling RepRap services.
