Don't necessarily hold your breath waiting on this, but fascinating to read:http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kevinmaney/2005-06-14-replicator_x.htm[/url]

Let's see if I can post the link better:http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kevinmaney/2005-06-14-replicator_x.htm

Idea expressed in TCS opinions is that the individual is empowered by IT technology to design parts/products/assemblies in a way not possible before computers. A bit etheral and utopian, perhaps but the guys at Strasburg are using PC based CAD/CAP as described.http://www.techcentralstation.com/06080 ... mlopinions based upon this book:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0465027458/qid%3D1117991059/sr%3D8-1/ref%3Dpd%5Fcsp%5F1/103-6185948-1843030/104-7826626-9515904?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

I think LOST IN SPACE had a similar plotline sometime. Given the gradual movement away from design specs on steam locomotive parts over decades of use and replacement, making many of one size to fit all isn't a realistic expectation for running repair jobs. Lots of restorations are done without remanufacturing the entire hulk back to new specs too - why rebuild a part that will get you by for another 40 years before it reaches condemnability? Manually operated machine tools for one-off part making that are too old to be retrofit with any automatic controls can still be got in good condition cheaply and are durable and robust.Now for replication, not a bad deal at all.........dave