Resolves when a printed printer manufactures a working printer. This is similar to the Reprap project, but must use only printed circuitry.

Details:

• Human assembly of printed components is acceptable

• Can involve multiple printed machines in the same location, so long as the set of machines can duplicate itself

• Raw material inputs like these are acceptable:

  • ABS or similar plastic filament

  • Various metals & powders

  • Insulated copper or fiber optic wire bought in bulk

  • Other unspecialized components of similarly low price

• Moderate degradation of performance or reliability in the output copy is acceptable if the system is still somewhat usable.

• These must basically be 3D printers, ie: it must be possible to use these printers to make other similar output items, using materials like metal & plastic.

Spirit of the question:

• When can a person run a 'printer farm'?

• When can they use their printer inventory to make more printers?

• When is this technology first demonstrated?

• These printers will be roughly the same size, material composition, & degree of complexity as modern 3D printers.