Think of RepRap as a China on your desktop.

RepRap is short for Replicating Rapid-prototyper. It is the practical self-copying 3D printer . . . - a self-replicating machine. This 3D printer builds the component up in layers of plastic. . .

what the RepRap team are doing is to develop and to give away the designs for a much cheaper machine with the novel capability of being able to self-copy (material costs are about €400). That way it's accessible to small communities in the developing world as well as individuals in the developed world. Following the principles of the Free Software Movement we are distributing the RepRap machine at no cost to everyone under the GNU General Public Licence. So, if you have a RepRap machine, you can make another and give it to a friend...

We hope to announce self-replication this year - 2008 - though the machine that will do it - RepRap Version 1.0 "Darwin" - can be built now - see . . . Make RepRap Darwin. . .

Not a new idea, but apparently immanent. Resistance isn't just futile, it's self punking.