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Amazing "printer" makes real things

By Chenda Ngak

February 10, 2012 / 9:07 AM EST / CBS News

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Objects can be created in a 3D modeling program or computer-aided design (CAD). The files are then read from a MakerBot printer.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

The printers come in two models - Thing-O-Matic and Replicator.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

The Thing-O-Matic was launched in September 2010 at the Maker Faire in New York City. It's MakerBot's smaller-sized printer.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Chess pieces, toys and model hands are some of the things that can be printed.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

More involved pieces, like remote-controlled toy cars can also be printed. MakerBot sells electronic parts to create the cars on their website.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

In August 2011 comedian Stephen Colbert has had his bust printed on a Thing-O-Matic and sent the 3D object into space.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

MakerBot owners can share files of their creations on the website Thingiverse.com. There are over 15,000 objects uploaded to the site.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

A 3D print about the size of this cupcake will typically take 45-minutes to print.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Chess pieces, toys and model hands are some of the things that can be printed.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

The Replicator was launched in January 2012. It prints larger sizes and two colors.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

CBS/Edecio Martinez

Brooklyn-based MakerBot Industries makes personal 3D printers. The machines lay down thin layers of plastic through a funnel until a 3D object is fully formed. Objects vary from small toys to remote-controlled cars.

Chenda Ngak

Chenda Ngak is the science and technology editor at CBSNews.com.

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