Proposal: Types of Project Teams

[Desert Mariner]

How much space could be conserved if a time traveling BEM brought back the plans for a 3D printer to be incorporated into the mobile fabrication shop?

[mmartin798]

Originally Posted by Desert Mariner

How much space could be conserved if a time traveling BEM brought back the plans for a 3D printer to be incorporated into the mobile fabrication shop?

Not that much. Even assuming you can print plastic parts in a 3D metal printer, you still have at least three machines, each measuring about 3' x 3' x 2', the printer, the debinder, and the furnace. In many cases you need to polish the surface smoother, so you need a machine for that. This setup only lets you make items that fit in an approximately 12" x 7.5" x 7.5" envelope.

The other factor is supplies. The 3D printer would require specialized materials to make anything. More traditional machines could work scavenged metal by cutting, grinding, or even rough milling the outside to get to the good metal in the center.

[cosmicfish]

I've divided my Project into 5 groups:

Recon, pretty much as is and all very generalized - since they will be the first ones awake and won't be able to predict much of what they will encounter.

MARS, pretty much as is but all specialized. For example, all my aviation assets are in MARS.

Science, divided between basic sciences (mostly physics, chemistry, and biology), environmental sciences (including geology, meteorology, zoology, etc), social sciences (anthropology, psychology, etc), and medicine (by far the largest subsection). Science primarily serves and interacts with other Project groups, and are there to help understand how the world has changed since the war and to provide the scientific understanding needed to rebuild. Medicine is a quasi-exception, since they will heavily interact with the populace.

Operations, which runs the Project and all its internal functions. They man the bases, run supply convoys, repair Project vehicles, etc. They don't spend much (if any) time in the field.

Recovery, which guides and provides the specialized skills and equipment for rebuilding. A large number of specialities and team types, Recon, MARS, and Science would all work under Recovery's guidance in rebuilding. Spend all their time in the field but are relatively poorly equipped or trained to operate in unsecured areas.

I could see splitting medicine off into their own branch, not sure if I will though.

[cosmicfish]

Originally Posted by Desert Mariner

How much space could be conserved if a time traveling BEM brought back the plans for a 3D printer to be incorporated into the mobile fabrication shop?

It should also be noted that current 3D printing techniques are very limited in the materials they can use and in the material properties of what they produce. For example, 3D printed materials are usually rougher and much weaker than can be produced by other methods. Plus, different materials require different processes, so multiple units would be required. It might serve a niche role, but some type of advanced mill machine would be more versatile.