Modern manufacturing is a bit like that, I know HOW an iPad works but could not build one because while most modern products are created with processes that are explainable to most people in our science and technology focussed age, they rely on experts in different fields pooling their knowledge to actually make a specific part. A car is a great example of this because it is so multidisciplinary. The other obvious point is there have to be rules, standards that things are made to, otherwise parts will not fit together.
In the past five years a new manufacturing process has evolved where most people can design and build their own complex parts. There are a range of processes but in essence they all build up plastic or other materials by laying down successive thin layers. The layers shape and location are derived from a 3D computer model of the part. These machines can be bought ready made for as little as £1000 with a license for a 3D software package and a decent amount of raw material included. Within 5 years I expect to see toy versions, printing out new toys, for under £100 and you can find out more in some earlier blog posts on this site.
Which brings me to the point of this article, if we can all make things ourselves there will need to be some standards if we want to collaborate. Here http://www.thingiverse.com/uck are details and the actual 3D model files for something called 'Universal Connector Kit' or UCK. Essentially it is a set of parts that join different toy modelling kits together. LEGO to K'nex for example. Each system has its own standards to ensure all items in the system fit together, but now someone's come up with these UCK bits and most parts from different systems can be used in one model. I guess the companies, like LEGO, who own these copyrighted designs will not worry just yet as it still need very expensive machines and raw materials to make the pieces accurately, but the future may be worth pondering.
Now imagine you race model cars. Designing new suspension bits and printing them out using a bureau, (somewhere who does 3D Printing for you when you send them the model), is something many advanced competitors are now doing. If you can afford the machine and material cost, its cheaper than time spent laboriously working a piece of plastic into the right shape. But that part costs time to design and maybe you want to get back some of your costs by selling a few to other people, (This is happening online already) but then it will have to be made to fit on a customers standard car. This is the future that is coming, those with the technical skills to use 3D design will produce their own parts and share them, but will need to adhere to standards if these parts are to be interchangeable.
I am a member of an inventors club in Nottingham, a sleeping member really, but we have a couple of the really basic solid modellers and people are sharing 3D model files, usually of stand alone items like a whistle or a small character model. People are sharing models and parts so some standards will be needed if these parts are to fit together. If we are to realise the potential of 3D printing we will have to learn the same lessons that major manufacturers like Toyota, Sony, JCB, Apple etc have known and embedded into their systems all along, you need rules to be truly creative.
