Here’s an excerpt from a project to create open source personal fabricators.

Why it is potentially so important:

“Universal manufacturing embodied as todays freeform fabrication systems has like universal computers the potential to transform human society to a degree that few creations ever have. The ability to directly fabricate functional custom objects could transform the way we design, make, deliver and consume products. But no less importantly, rapid prototyping technology has the potential to redefine the designer. By eliminating many of the barriers of resource and skill that currently prevent ordinary inventors from realizing their own ideas, fabbers can democratize innovation

Ubiquitous automated manufacturing can thus open the door to a new class of independent designers, a marketplace of printable blueprints, and a new economy of custom products. Just like the Internet and MP3s have freed musical talent from control of big labels, so can widespread RP divorce technological innovation from the control of big corporations.”

The Goal of the project:

“it seems reasonable to imagine a low-cost multi-material SFF system in ones home, which could produce objects or even complete integrated devices from designs which are shared or purchased online. Should such systems become as available as personal computers or printers are today, the invention and personalization of small devices could become as ubiquitous as music sharing is today. MITs FabLab project provides ample evidence that providing people with automated fabrication tools serves as an innovation catalyst; ordinary folk, with seemingly no technical background quickly learn to exploit these tools to design and realize new inventions. The only thing now missing is the low cost, hackable rapid prototyper kit.”