The RepRap (and indeed the whole concept of 3D printers) is awesome and exciting and I think has the potential to make a huge difference to the world.
However, they really need to stop describing it as "self-replicating". It's only self replicating if you ignore most of the parts and the assembly which is to say it's not at all self replicating in any way. Yes, it's cool that it can make some of the parts in itself (those that happen to be small and made of plastic) but when you describe it as "self-replicating" you set up unrealistic ideas of what it actually is. Sell it on its on merits, not on inflated claims!
If they get it to the point where it prints it's own circuit boards, I would be inclined to let it slide. Basically if you can boil all the non self made parts down to off the self components.
Well, actually, many people have hacked theirs to use black permanent markers (which are etch resistant), so, I don't see any reason why you couldn't use it to black out circuit tracks on PCB's, than simply etch the boards with acid. It isn't quite printing them, but it does make the process much easier!
I know that there's been a lot of talk about RepRap already, but I like to see the occasional new post on it because it lets me see how the project is going every so often. So, as a lazy HN reader who wants to keep tabs on how replicator technology is progressing without writing it on my calendar, I thank you.
A friend of mine is building one. And although some parts can be printed, it's not print-and-go: It's it already took him 3 months (about 1 evening a week).
Guideline: "On-Topic: Anything that good hackers would find interesting."
Maybe it's too darn interesting so when people stumble on it they post it. I think the reprap is genuinely interesting and there's nothing you can do about that.
However, they really need to stop describing it as "self-replicating". It's only self replicating if you ignore most of the parts and the assembly which is to say it's not at all self replicating in any way. Yes, it's cool that it can make some of the parts in itself (those that happen to be small and made of plastic) but when you describe it as "self-replicating" you set up unrealistic ideas of what it actually is. Sell it on its on merits, not on inflated claims!