3D Printing objects larger than Printer using space-filling curve based chains

[kram1032]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24275#.UkRoSoY5lwg

 

[Tglad]

"Hilbert curve – a fractal-based pattern that is the most efficient way of squeezing a single line into a small as space as possible"

Surely this is incorrect, several space filling curves are presumably equally dense, and surely you don't even need a fractal, if the line follows a raster pattern it would be just as efficient, and fewer folds too.

[kram1032]

I suppose you could go for any space-filling pattern which, in case of finite resoluion, really doesn't need to be fractal.
However, the hilbert curve is always the same thing, no matter what size you do it. In case of a simple raster-like pattern, where you, say, start zig-zagging a plane and then go into the next plane with another zig and zig zag away until you fill the curve, the precise time of ziging and zaging depends not only on how long the chain is but also on the volume.
In case of the Hilbert curve, you can just keep going with the same pattern until you reach the desired size.

There might also be a stability issue with a naive pattern. Did you watch the video, how the structure is printed? It might be, that the chain would just fall apart preemtpively if you use a simple pattern like stacks of planes of zig-zag-lines, such that the process may be disturbed. The hilbert curve probably has higher structural stability.

Of course I'm not sure if that's the case. It's just a cool application of fractals I found, so I thought I'd share it.

[Nahee_Enterprises]

    http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24275#.UkRoSoY5lwg   

A good idea for creating larger objects.  In a few years from now, every other home will have a 3-D printer.     

Can't wait to make my own weapons without having to worry about a license.     
 

[Chillheimer]

Can't wait to make my own weapons without having to worry about a license.     

Are you joking or do I just have such a fundamentally different mindset?
I really don't get this.