What in the world is a 3-D rapid proto-typer, you ask? Well in this age of ever-expanding technology, industrial scientists have come up with a device that allows you to take a computer generated file (like a CAD file for example, the likes of which engineers use to design mechanical parts) send it electronically to the machine and in much the same way a computer printer works, it spreads a micro-thin layer of a plastic compound down and layer by layer builds the file content up into a 3-dimensional object identical in specifications.

So now rather than deal with the possible mistake of a handcrafted part by a machinist, engineers, designers and artists can create an object in virtual space viewable from every angle. They can check and recheck the specs and when finally satisfied, send it to their printer and in a matter of hours have a plastic rendition of it that is exactly correct.

Sounds interesting doesn't it? The 3-d printer (as we will call it here on out) has been around for quite a while now, but has only recently become efficient enough to stand on its own. Earlier models would create rough detailed versions of a file that needed to be cleaned up by a craftsperson. It was a messy process that also lead to some imperfections due to said cleaning. Still, it gave good dimensional results and did not involve the hiring of a