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Dictionary of Manufacturing Terms in Science Fiction
(Technovelgy items at top: skip
down to News)
Name |
Author (Publication Date) |
Automated Factories Manufacturing facilities that do not require human workers. |
Poul Anderson (1957) |
Automatic Factory Manufacturing facility that functions entirely autonomously. |
Philip K. Dick (1955) |
Automatized Factory A factory consisting of machines with imposed human abilities. |
Frederik Pohl (1955) |
Biltong Life Form Remarkable organic manufacturing aliens, probably indigenous to the Centaurus system. |
Philip K. Dick (1956) |
Cutteray - mining laser A laser used in a range of tools - including mining equipment. |
Frank Herbert (1965) |
Deposition (3D Printing) A method for creating any object, molecule by molecule. |
James P. Hogan (1978) |
Device Replication Manufacturing devices from a template to save space on space craft. |
Robert Silverberg (1969) |
Distributed Assembly Plant Bringing parts together for assembly in a crowd anonymously. |
Daniel Suarez (2006) |
Inert Resin - resinous coatings A special coating that eliminates maintenance on marine structures. |
Bruce Sterling (1988) |
Instant Customized Clothing - mass customization A machine that produced a selected item of clothing, on the spot, based on customer demand. |
Robert Heinlein (1941) |
Martian Print Amoeba - unicellular organism An organism able to mimic consumer goods. |
Philip K. Dick (1966) |
Matter Compiler - stereolithography on steroids A device that builds the desired article (such as a dress) atom by atom according to a specified design. |
Neal Stephenson (1995) |
Nanofax - fax 3D objects, not flat ones Send a copy of a three-dimensional object to a distant place. |
William Gibson (1999) |
Orbital Factory Putting manufacturing in space, orbiting the planet. |
Jerry Pournelle (1976) |
Orbiting Factories Manufacturing centers in orbit around the Earth. |
Arthur C. Clarke (1978) |
Panatrope - mutation for survival A device that modifies human dna to ensure survival in harsh alien environments. |
James Blish (1952) |
Perpetual Train A vast machine that lays its own tracks as it moves forward. |
China Mieville (2004) |
Plastic Constructor (3D Printer) A 3D printer - for spaceships. |
Murray Leinster (1945) |
Production Prescription A file that can be used to reproduce an object. |
Stanislaw Lem (1955) |
Puddinged A poorly formed 3D printed copy, with an interior that was a mass of malformed material. |
Philip K. Dick (1956) |
Service Drones - flying fix-it bot Small flying construction and repair robots. |
James P. Hogan (1979) |
Unattended Factory A factory that works entirely automatically, without human guidance. |
Otfrid von Hanstein (1935) |
Vehicle Seeds A matrix of materials and instructions that allow vehicles to grow themselves when placed in an environment of plentiful materials. |
Greg Bear (2015) |
Related Science Fiction in the News
Laser-Beam Welding In Orbital Factories 'His contract with Space Industries required him to work summers in their orbital factory.' - Jerry Pournelle, 1976. (re: Jerry Pournelle, 11/7/2024 ) |
Varda Space Industries Orbital Factories '... work summers in their orbital factory complex.' - Jerry Pournelle, 1976. (re: Jerry Pournelle, 6/21/2023 ) |
Boring Company Bricks Predicted In 1929 '... used to make building blocks for these invaders.' - Frank Phillips, 1929. (re: Frank Phillips, 7/3/2021 ) |
Is It Possible To GROW Planes And Vehicles? 'These are your rudimentary seed packages...' - Greg Bear, 2015. (re: Greg Bear, 3/19/2021 ) |
Scaly-Foot Snail Works With Iron 'Micro-Scale suit tiles fabricated by genetically engineered metal affinity bacteria...' (re: Unknown, 1/19/2021 ) |
Looms To Manually Weave Lunar Rover Wheels It's fascinating to me how the Apollo program forced people to think outside their usual boxes. (re: Charles Sheffield, 1/3/2021 ) |
3D Printed 'Blisk' Manufactured In Orbit 'It can be mass-produced only in the orbiting factories...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1978. (re: Arthur C. Clarke, 12/15/2020 ) |
3D Printing With Sunlight And Sand 'We made a crude, small cell and were delighted...' - John W. Campbell, 1950. (re: John W. Campbell, 11/9/2020 ) |
As Big As A Biltong - World's Largest 3D Printer 'Huge and old, it squatted in the center of the settlement park... On the concrete platform... lay a heap of originals to be duplicated.' - Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 3/1/2020 ) |
The Dawn Of Orbiting Manufacturing In 2020? 'It can be mass-produced only in the orbiting factories.' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1978. (re: Arthur C. Clarke, 1/11/2020 ) |
Orbital Manufacturer 'Made in Space' Gets $73 Million NASA Contract 'Mass-produced in the orbiting factories...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1978. (re: Arthur C. Clarke, 8/3/2019 ) |
CNSILK Robotic Spider Builder 'We could certainly spin a web right through the Solar System, if we can think of a good use for one.' - Charles Sheffield, 1979. (re: Charles Sheffield, 6/9/2019 ) |
NASA 3D Printed Habitat Challenge Won By AI SpaceFactory 3D printing - on Mars! (re: John W. Campbell, 5/21/2019 ) |
Superfast Replicator: Volumetric Additive Manufacturing I can't wait. Bring it on. (re: Gene Roddenberry, 1/29/2019 ) |
A 'Genuine Nanorobotic Production Factory' 'Microscopic machinery, smaller than ants, smaller than pins, working energetically, purposefully - constructing something...' - Philip K Dick, 1955. (re: Philip K. Dick, 2/4/2018 ) |
Made In Space To Manufacture Optical Fiber In Orbit 'Mass-produced only in the orbiting factories...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1978. (re: Arthur C. Clarke, 12/9/2017 ) |
Self-Assembling Bacteria Build A Pressure Sensor Nature is a master of fabricating structured materials consisting of living and non-living components. (re: Unknown, 10/13/2017 ) |
Artificial Spider Silk You can also use it to make a roof - on an asteroid. (re: Robert Heinlein, 8/22/2017 ) |
Archinaut Orbiting Robotic Factory 'Mass-produced only in the orbiting factories...'- Arthur C. Clarke, 1978. (re: Arthur C. Clarke, 4/26/2017 ) |
Digital Construction Platform Robot 3D Prints A Building 'It extrudes material like a spider.' - Charles Sheffield, 1979. (re: Charles Sheffield, 4/16/2017 ) |
Ford Stratasys Infinte Build 3D Printer 'He proudly indicated his Buick... Almost as good as the original it was printed from...' - Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 2/24/2017 ) |
Pay For The 3D Printer - NexD1 Kickstarter 'The works of the tiny Swiss watch were a fused, unformed mass...' - Philip K Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 12/4/2016 ) |
Chemputer To Grow Bespoke Drones Through Chemistry 'These are your rudimentary seed packages...' - Greg Bear, 2015. (re: Greg Bear, 6/18/2016 ) |
Siemens 3D Printing Robot Spiders 'The eight thin metallic legs were pointed downwards, balanced delicately...' - Charles Sheffield, 1979. (re: Charles Sheffield, 5/9/2016 ) |
3D Cocooner From Festo Spins Web In Mid-Air 'It makes drawings in the air following drawings it scans with photo-cells.' - Murray Leinster, 1945 (re: Murray Leinster, 4/12/2016 ) |
XYZprinting 3D Pen Used, Reviewed By Terrible Artist 'Plastic comes out of the end of the drawing arm and hardens...' - Murray Leinster, 1945. (re: Murray Leinster, 1/7/2016 ) |
3D Printing Microparticles 'Finest quality. Superior workmanship...' - Ridley Scott, 1982. (re: Ridley Scott, 12/6/2015 ) |
LM3D Swim First 3D-Printed Production Car 'Almost as good as the original it was printed from…' - Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 10/29/2015 ) |
MultiFab 10-Material 3D Printer 'On the concrete platform, in front of the dying Biltong, lay a heap of originals to be duplicated.' - Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 8/29/2015 ) |
Ekso Works Industrial Exoskeleton 'Earth's scientists [devised] rigid metallic clothing not unlike armor...'- Edmond Hamilton, 1932. (re: Edmond Hamilton, 8/1/2015 ) |
Audi's Chairless Chair Lower Body Exoskeleton 'Solved the problem to some extent by devising rigid metallic clothing...'- Edmond Hamilton, 1929. (re: Edmond Hamilton, 3/3/2015 ) |
CreoPop 3D Pen Draws In Midair 'It makes drawings in the air...'- Murray Leinster, 1945. (re: Murray Leinster, 3/2/2015 ) |
3D Printer 'Teleports' Objects Like Simak's Way Stations 'An entirely new being but exactly like the old one'- Clifford Simak, 1963. (re: Clifford Simak, 1/18/2015 ) |
3Doodler 2.0 Create A 3D Object With A Pen 'Plastic comes out of the end of the drawing arm and hardens as it comes.'- Murray Leinster, 1945. (re: Murray Leinster, 1/5/2015 ) |
Oak Ridge To Pay For The (Giant, Superfast 3D) Printer 'Can your Biltong print for more than a hundred people?'- Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 11/27/2014 ) |
Artisanal 3D Printing By Martha Stewart 'Nanofax AG offers a technology that digitally reproduces objects, physically, at a distance.'- William Gibson, 1999. (re: William Gibson, 11/17/2014 ) |
3D Printer Vending Machine Dispenses Dreams 'Nanofax AG offers a technology that digitally reproduces objects, physically, at a distance.'- William Gibson, 1999. (re: William Gibson, 10/19/2014 ) |
3D Printing With Moon Regolith Simulant (Moon Dust) Don't forget, it costs about 5k dollars to lift one pound up from Earth. A penny saved is a penny earned. (re: John W. Campbell, 9/22/2014 ) |
Strati 3D Printed Car 'You rode in it - you know how good it is.'- Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 9/14/2014 ) |
First 3D Printer In Space? 'It can be mass-produced only in the orbiting factories...'- Arthur C. Clarke, 1978. (re: Arthur C. Clarke, 9/3/2014 ) |
World's First Rapid 3D Nanoscale Printer 'Down, to the limit imposed by the ultimate indivisibility of the atoms themselves...'- Raymond Z. Gallun, 1937. (re: Raymond Z. Gallun, 8/28/2014 ) |
Robot Lamp Assembles Itself (Via 3D Printer) 'You see, the Sheen Robots assemble themselves...'- James Schmitz, 1966. (re: James Schmitz, 6/9/2014 ) |
3D Printing An Entire Car "... Almost as good as the original it was printed from."- Philip K. Dick, 1956. (re: Philip K. Dick, 11/26/2013 ) |
Self-Building, Self-Tooling, Autonomous Manufacturing 'The machinery was building a miniature replica of the demolished factory.'- Philip K. Dick, 1953. (re: Philip K. Dick, 7/6/2013 ) |
3D Printing Is Here - Pay For The Printer! 'On the concrete platform, in front of the dying Biltong, lay a heap of originals to be duplicated.'- Philip K. Dick, 1955. (re: Philip K. Dick, 12/18/2012 ) |
3D Printing: The End Of Global Supply Chains? 'Nanofax AG offers a technology that digitally reproduces objects, physically, at a distance.'- William Gibson, 1999. (re: Philip K. Dick, 10/14/2012 ) |
MGX 3D Printed Goods Almost Has it They almost have that Gibsonian business model figured out. (re: William Gibson, 12/19/2010 ) |
3D Nano Molecular Structures Can Be Built On A Surface Working nanotechnology gets a bit closer with this first time development. (re: Philip K. Dick, 11/23/2010 ) |
Brick Road-Printing Machine Now with Disney and Thunderbirds update! Pretty impressive machine performs a difficult task admirably well; those of us who have done this task by hand salute the designers. (re: China Mieville, 11/16/2010 ) |
Autofac - Real-Life Nanoscale Assembly Line Remarkable experiment demonstrates that a nanoscale assembly line can actually work. (re: Philip K. Dick, 5/16/2010 ) |
3D Printing In Ceramics - The Vitraglyphic Process A new way to fabricate glass and ceramic objects. (re: Philip K. Dick, 5/11/2010 ) |
Zprinter 350 Full-Color 3D Printer Nothing like getting a full-color object right out of the printer - or the nanofax, for William Gibson fans. (re: William Gibson, 10/19/2009 ) |
D_Shape 3DPrints Houses, Rocks, Temples All you need is a CAD file - use it to print out conventional houses - are you kidding? Print out Mayan temples or Planet of the Apes houses! (re: Larry Niven, 5/11/2009 ) |
Mcor Matrix 3D Paper Printer This device prints out three-dimensional objects using regular paper. It seems like only yesterday that I brought home my MX-80. (re: William Gibson, 11/8/2008 ) |
Hexapod Robot CNC Router I'd never look at a six-legged robot and think to myself 'This thing would make a great CNC router.' But Matt Denton did, and you'll be glad he did. (re: Jack Vance, 6/13/2008 ) |
Roll-to-Roll Processing OLEDs And Video Wallpaper This is a very cool technology, one that could provide us with several different sfnal devices in the not-too-distant future. (re: Vernor Vinge, 4/18/2008 ) |
Contour Crafting House Printer Nears Test It appears that the work of Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis and his 'house printer' will finally get a real-world test in the next few months. (re: Murray Leinster, 1/15/2007 ) |
Fab@Home 'Fabber' Freeform Fabricator Lipson and Malone bring the printing of three-dimensional objects into the home with this project. (re: Jack Williamson, 1/11/2007 ) |
Sketch Furniture Ultra Rapid Prototyping Amazing technology so advanced only children's fantasy could predict it; the purple crayon is included. (re: Murray Leinster, 11/4/2006 ) |
Contour Crafting: 3D House Printer Perhaps you've used those programs that let you design your dream house, creating a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file. Not quite ready to take up the hammer and start building? What if you could just "print" your house? (re: Murray Leinster, 3/11/2004 ) |
Desktop Manufacturing - 3D 'Printouts' Unlike other systems that are more expensive and energy intensive, this machine can work with a relatively low-tech electrical heater filament. (re: William Gibson, 11/26/2003 ) |
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