TEDxVienna
Klaus Stadlmann: The world's smallest 3D printer
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What could you do with the world’s smallest 3D printer? Klaus Stadlmann demos his tiny, affordable printer that could someday make customized hearing aids -- or sculptures smaller than a human hair.
(Filmed at TEDxVienna.)
Klaus Stadlmann - Engineer
Klaus Stadlmann was pursuing his PhD at Vienna's Technical University when a broken laser system gave him some unexpected free time to think. Instead of working on his thesis, he decided to build the world's smallest 3D printer. Full bio
Klaus Stadlmann was pursuing his PhD at Vienna's Technical University when a broken laser system gave him some unexpected free time to think. Instead of working on his thesis, he decided to build the world's smallest 3D printer. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
大家好，
很荣幸能站在这里。
很荣幸能站在这里。
00:47
Hello everybody,
thanks for having me today.
thanks for having me today.
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我在路上出了点事故，
00:50
I'm a little bit injured,
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不过无论如何都阻止不了
我来这里跟大家见面。
我来这里跟大家见面。
00:51
but it takes more than a car
to stop me from talking to you.
to stop me from talking to you.
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00:55
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
00:57
(Applause)
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（掌声）
坦克也许可以吧？
01:00
Maybe a tank?
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今天我想谈谈微型打印机，
01:04
So today, I want to talk
about the microprinter,
about the microprinter,
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关于我的工作，
一切都是如何开始的，
一切都是如何开始的，
01:08
about my work, how everything started,
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是什么启发我造出了
世界上最小的3D打印机。
世界上最小的3D打印机。
01:10
what was my motivation to build
the smallest 3-D printer in the world.
the smallest 3-D printer in the world.
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01:16
Let's start with my daily business.
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首先介绍一下我每天的工作内容。
01:19
So, my normal working field is called
two-photon polymerization.
two-photon polymerization.
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我日常的工作领域叫做双光子聚合。
01:25
It sounds very nerdy, it is very nerdy.
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我承认这听起来很晦涩，确实非常晦涩
（典型的技术宅用语）。
（典型的技术宅用语）。
01:28
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
01:30
What do you need for making this stuff?
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都需要些什么材料呢？
01:33
You need a complex laser system,
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你需要一个复杂的激光系统，
通常叫做 飞秒激光系统
01:36
a so-called femtosecond laser system,
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01:38
which you focus onto a very tiny spot --
very, very, very tiny --
very, very, very tiny --
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（让激光）聚焦在一个很小的点——
非常非常非常小——
非常非常非常小——
01:43
and this is a very expensive,
not very durable laser system. (Laughs)
not very durable laser system. (Laughs)
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这个系统造价昂贵，
还比较容易坏。（笑声）
还比较容易坏。（笑声）
01:50
And on the other hand, you need
a very complex positioning system.
a very complex positioning system.
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另一方面，你需要一个
非常复杂的定位系统。
非常复杂的定位系统。
我们叫它“阿加特”，
因为它很重，
因为它很重，
01:54
We call it "Agathe,"
because it's very heavy,
because it's very heavy,
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我们觉得“阿加特”
这名字还挺贴切的。
这名字还挺贴切的。
01:58
and we thought Agathe was a nice name.
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02:00
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
那么你需要让激光
在液相介质中穿梭，
在液相介质中穿梭，
02:02
And, well, you need this system
to move the laser through,
to move the laser through,
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光路要精确到200纳米，
02:06
for example, at the very accurate
level, about 200 nanometers,
level, about 200 nanometers,
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应该说极为精确。
02:10
so very accurate.
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那么这个东西可以干什么呢？
02:11
And, well, what can you do with that?
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你可以进行一些肉眼看不见的操作。
02:13
You can do things
that you cannot see with your eyes.
that you cannot see with your eyes.
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你可以打印任何东西，
02:17
So you can print out whatever you want,
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比如一个伦敦塔桥，
还有阿加特的老公等等······
还有阿加特的老公等等······
02:19
you can print out a tower bridge,
you can print out Agathe's husband ...
you can print out Agathe's husband ...
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02:24
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
好了，那么这个东西
有什么特别之处呢？
有什么特别之处呢？
02:27
OK, but, what makes it so mind-blowing?
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你们可能注意到了这个比例尺，
塔桥的比例尺长度是100微米，
塔桥的比例尺长度是100微米，
02:33
You maybe notice this scale bar,
and it's 100 microns for the tower bridge
and it's 100 microns for the tower bridge
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胖男人的比例尺是20微米。
02:39
and 20 microns for the fat man.
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对比一下，人的
头发直径大概是50微米。
头发直径大概是50微米。
02:42
For comparison, the diameter
of a human hair is around 50 microns.
of a human hair is around 50 microns.
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所以这些物件只有
一颗灰尘那么大，甚至更小，
一颗灰尘那么大，甚至更小，
02:46
So these objects are like
a dust particle or even smaller,
a dust particle or even smaller,
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02:51
so you can hardly see them.
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肉眼几乎看不见。
而你完全可以做的，
也是我们正在着手做的是
也是我们正在着手做的是
02:55
What you can also do
and what we are also working on
and what we are also working on
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改进这个系统，
改进树脂材料的性能，
改进树脂材料的性能，
02:59
is improving the system,
improving the resins,
improving the resins,
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树脂就是我们用来固定虫子
或者其他东西的粘稠物。
或者其他东西的粘稠物。
03:03
the material we use for catching
a worm or something else.
a worm or something else.
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我们通过移动激光在树脂
内部的路径，让它发生聚合，
内部的路径，让它发生聚合，
03:09
Inside the resin, we move the laser
through the resin, it gets polymerized,
through the resin, it gets polymerized,
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就能固定一个活着的物体，
03:14
and we catch a living animal,
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比如一只特殊的虫子。
03:17
here, a special worm.
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03:19
What we're trying to do,
or what the next step would be,
or what the next step would be,
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我们正在尝试，
或者说下一步的计划就是
或者说下一步的计划就是
03:23
is to make biocompatible polymers
and maybe to write some things
and maybe to write some things
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制造生物兼容的聚合物，
用它在我们的身体，
用它在我们的身体，
或者一只虫子的
身体内写点什么东西，
身体内写点什么东西，
03:29
inside your body
or inside the body of a worm,
or inside the body of a worm,
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也可以在我们指定的结构中
植入一个细胞，等等。
植入一个细胞，等等。
03:33
or to attach cells
to our structures, and so on.
to our structures, and so on.
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那么这就是我工作的日常内容。
03:38
But, OK, that's my normal working field.
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今天我想讲一讲这个
微型打印机背后的故事。
微型打印机背后的故事。
03:41
Today I want to tell the story
behind the microprinter.
behind the microprinter.
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我的发明动机是什么？
03:45
What was my motivation?
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所有的一切开始于周一早上6点半。
03:47
Well, everything started
on Monday morning, 6:30.
on Monday morning, 6:30.
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我开玩笑呢，估计差不多10点吧。
03:52
OK, that's a lie. Maybe it was 10 o'clock.
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（笑声）
03:55
(Laughter)
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我去了我在维也纳理工大学
工作的激光实验室，
工作的激光实验室，
03:56
I went to my laser lab, which is located
near Karlsplatz, in Freihaus,
near Karlsplatz, in Freihaus,
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位于Freihaus区的卡尔广场。
04:01
at the Vienna University of Technology.
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我到了实验室却
发现这个系统坏掉了，
发现这个系统坏掉了，
04:03
I went in, and I saw
that this laser system was broken,
that this laser system was broken,
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就试着修好它。
04:07
and I tried to fix it.
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这花了我好几个小时，
差不多半天时间。
差不多半天时间。
04:09
It took me half a day, several hours.
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然后我发现主要问题出在泵源。
04:12
Then I noticed, OK, there is a major
issue with the pump source.
issue with the pump source.
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这事儿靠我自己可搞不定，
得给维修人员打电话。
得给维修人员打电话。
04:16
I cannot fix that myself; we have to call
the service technician.
the service technician.
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从那一刻起，我就意识到
自己有时间思考了。
自己有时间思考了。
04:20
And from that point on,
I noticed I had time to think.
I noticed I had time to think.
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于是我想，现在干点什么呢？
应该可以着手写博士论文了吧。
应该可以着手写博士论文了吧。
04:23
So I thought, "What to do now?
Maybe start to write my PhD thesis."
Maybe start to write my PhD thesis."
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（笑声）
04:28
(Laughter)
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算了，这可不是个好主意。
04:30
No, no, not a good idea at all.
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于是我又想了想，
可以写篇稿子投给杂志社？
可以写篇稿子投给杂志社？
04:32
So I started thinking, maybe
write a scientific paper.
write a scientific paper.
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也不怎么样。
04:37
Not a good idea at all.
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于是周六，在我
冥思苦想了一周之后，
冥思苦想了一周之后，
04:39
And then, on Saturday,
after a week of thinking,
after a week of thinking,
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我有了个点子，
04:43
I came up with the idea
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不如搞一个世界上
最小的3D微型打印机吧。
最小的3D微型打印机吧。
04:44
to build the smallest
3-D microprinter in the world.
3-D microprinter in the world.
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04:47
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
或者就叫世界上最小的3D打印机。
04:49
Or, the smallest 3-D printer in the world.
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04:51
(Applause)
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（掌声）
于是我给导师打电话说了这个想法，
04:56
So I called my professor
and told him about it.
and told him about it.
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“嘿，做一个吧！
反正我现在有空，怎么样？”
反正我现在有空，怎么样？”
05:00
"Hey, let's build the thing!
I have time. Is it OK?"
I have time. Is it OK?"
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“行啊，随你好了。”
05:03
"Go ahead, build it."
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于是从那时起，我就泡在学校里，
05:04
And so I went to the university,
and from that point on,
and from that point on,
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把脑子里的全部想法
都输入到计算机中，
都输入到计算机中，
05:07
I just put everything out of my brain
inside the computer
inside the computer
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开始用专业软件对整个机器
进行三维立体设计。
进行三维立体设计。
05:11
to make this CAD construction
of the whole thing.
of the whole thing.
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05:14
And after a few months,
we had the first test run with the system.
we had the first test run with the system.
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几个月之后，我们在机器上
进行了第一次试运行。
进行了第一次试运行。
05:19
It worked brilliantly
from the first test on,
from the first test on,
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从第一次测试开始
它就一直运行出色，
它就一直运行出色，
分辨率跟价值6万欧元的
高端产品相比毫不逊色，
高端产品相比毫不逊色，
05:24
and it had the same resolution
as systems which cost 60,000 euros,
as systems which cost 60,000 euros,
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而我们打造的系统
只花了1500欧元，
只花了1500欧元，
05:29
and we only spent 1,500 euros
for the system,
for the system,
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当然不包括我的工资，
05:33
not including my salary,
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不过就算包括了也差不了太多。
05:37
but that wouldn't add so much on its own.
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（笑声）
05:40
(Laughter)
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好了，那么这东西
到底是怎么工作的呢？
到底是怎么工作的呢？
05:41
OK, how does this work?
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05:43
I brought you a video
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这里有一个视频，
展示了如何导入3D打印格式的文件。
05:45
where you can see how you can put
in your three-dimensional file.
in your three-dimensional file.
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这个视频是我的一个朋友
Junior Veloso制作的。
Junior Veloso制作的。
05:50
This video was produced
by a friend of mine, Junior Veloso.
by a friend of mine, Junior Veloso.
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05:55
And you can see, you have
a set stage which moves up.
a set stage which moves up.
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可以看到有一个
设置向上移动的平台。
设置向上移动的平台。
05:58
And under the set stage,
there is a liquid,
there is a liquid,
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在那个平台下面是一种液体，
在光的作用下会固化。
06:01
which gets solidified by the light.
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06:04
And slice by slice, you create the model,
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你可以一片一片的打印你的模型，
相当于一点点把模型
从液面上拉起来成型。
从液面上拉起来成型。
06:09
so you really pull it out of the liquid.
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06:16
And it just depends
on how big your model is.
on how big your model is.
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制作速度基本上取决于
你的模型有多大。
你的模型有多大。
（需要分拆成）按100片，1000片
还是1万片打印，都随你。
还是1万片打印，都随你。
06:19
Maybe you have 100 slices,
1,000 or 10,000 slices.
1,000 or 10,000 slices.
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这就是它的基本工作原理。
06:23
So that's how it works.
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当然，这个机器比
微型打印机大多了，
微型打印机大多了，
06:26
Of course, this is a much bigger machine
than the microprinter,
than the microprinter,
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但是工作原理都是大同小异，
06:29
but it uses more or less
the same principles,
the same principles,
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我想给大家介绍的大概就这么多。
06:32
so that's what I want to show you.
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最后，这个外星人头部
06:34
At the end, this head, this alien head,
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是被固定在打印平台上的，
06:37
is attached to the building platform,
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当这个过程完成后，
你只需要从支撑结构上
你只需要从支撑结构上
06:39
and when the process is done,
you just simply have to break the head
you just simply have to break the head
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把这个头轻轻取下来，
06:46
from the support structure you need,
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就大功告成了。
06:48
and then everything is ready.
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06:51
So.
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就这样。
06:54
OK, but what does
the microprinter look like?
the microprinter look like?
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那么微型打印机长什么样儿呢？
你们当中有些人
可能已经见过这个图片了。
可能已经见过这个图片了。
06:57
Well, maybe some of you
have already seen this picture.
have already seen this picture.
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07:01
I also brought it to you in person,
so I want to kindly introduce you
so I want to kindly introduce you
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我今天也带来了一台，
各位，这就是我所提到的
各位，这就是我所提到的
3D微型打印机，就是这个样子。
07:06
to the 3-D microprinter,
which looks like this.
which looks like this.
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它很小，只是台式机版本。
07:09
So it's very small,
it's really a desktop version.
it's really a desktop version.
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造价低廉。
07:13
It's a really affordable system.
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我们对此感到非常自豪，而且——
07:15
And we are really proud of it,
actually, and --
actually, and --
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（笑声）
07:19
(Laughter)
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07:23
And you have this tiny little system;
there are bigger ones.
there are bigger ones.
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除了这个小巧的系统，
当然还有更大的。
当然还有更大的。
那么你能用廉价的机器做点什么呢？
07:28
What can you do
with a cheap, affordable system?
with a cheap, affordable system?
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比如大家比较熟悉的助听器？
07:31
For example, you all know
these hearing aids?
these hearing aids?
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这些小玩意儿通常只能定制生产，
07:36
They have to be produced
individually for each person,
individually for each person,
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给助听器打造外壳
07:40
so this is a perfect example
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就是这种打印技术的
一个完美应用实例。
一个完美应用实例。
07:42
for using this technology
to create the shell for a hearing aid.
to create the shell for a hearing aid.
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07:47
Normally, you go to the store,
they scan your ear,
they scan your ear,
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通常你要去店里，
让他们扫描你耳朵的轮廓，
让他们扫描你耳朵的轮廓，
然后把数据通过邮件发到德国——
07:50
they send the data
to Germany via email, and --
to Germany via email, and --
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（笑声）
07:55
(Laughter)
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07:56
and then they print it out with a --
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然后再用——
07:59
(Applause)
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（掌声）
08:00
Thank you.
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谢谢大家。
08:01
(Applause)
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（掌声）
08:06
Then they print it out with a big machine,
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然后再用很大的机器打印出来，
成品做好了再通过邮局
08:09
and then, when it's ready
to send back to Vienna
to send back to Vienna
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寄回维也纳，
08:12
or wherever you are --
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08:15
via post --
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或者其他地方——
08:17
then they put in the electronics.
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再把它安装到电子部件上。
如果你要去的店里有微型打印机，
08:19
When you have a microprinter
in your store,
in your store,
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08:21
you can go to the store,
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你就可以过去
让他们扫描你的耳朵，
08:23
they scan your ear,
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他们只需要按下“打印”键，
08:25
they just press "Print,"
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扫描的3D模型就会
被划分成片（进行打印），
被划分成片（进行打印），
08:28
the 3-D model gets sliced,
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这时候你可以出去喝杯咖啡，
08:31
and you can go for a coffee,
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去校园里逛逛，或者
随便做点什么别的事儿，
随便做点什么别的事儿，
08:33
you can go to the university,
whatever you want,
whatever you want,
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一天之内就能拿到打印好的
耳廓模型或者助听器了，
耳廓模型或者助听器了，
08:36
and instead of five days, you can have
your ear shell or your hearing aid
your ear shell or your hearing aid
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不需要再等上5天。
08:42
in just one day.
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这就是这种小巧的机器，
以及其他廉价3D打印机
以及其他廉价3D打印机
08:45
And that is an example
of how these tiny little machines
of how these tiny little machines
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如何改变你的日常生活的一个例子。
08:49
or other cheap 3-D printers
could change our everyday lives.
could change our everyday lives.
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非常感谢大家，
08:54
So thank you very much,
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08:55
and start printing whatever
you want, whatever you need.
you want, whatever you need.
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开始试着打印你们想要的东西
和需要的东西吧。
和需要的东西吧。
（掌声）
08:59
(Applause)
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Reviewed by Fang Kevin
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Klaus Stadlmann - EngineerKlaus Stadlmann was pursuing his PhD at Vienna's Technical University when a broken laser system gave him some unexpected free time to think. Instead of working on his thesis, he decided to build the world's smallest 3D printer.
Why you should listen
Klaus Stadlmann graduated from the Technical University of Vienna with a degree in Industrial Engineering. While pursuing his PhD at the Institute of Material Sciences and Technologies at Vienna's Technical University, Klaus led the project to develop the world's smallest 3D printer.
Klaus Stadlmann | Speaker | TED.com