[omegaman]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-57...s-3d-printing/

[LCARS 24]

Actually, you can take a Lightwave CGI model of a starship to a 3D print shop, and they'll run it off for you in plastic as a physical model if you're willing to pay. Then painting it is up to you, and it will be solid, not hollow (heavy and not conducive to mounting LED llighting).

Similar to 3D printing (stereolithography) is selective laser sintering, done with metals. But on the moon, it could be done outdoors to form large, strong igloos from moon dust, either by using solar panels to power lasers for by concentrating sunlight with a lens, but either way with the work done by robots and taking a year or so to complete a 60-foot dome with a foot-thick wall.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

That 3-D printing is wild. I saw a video on that (it may have even been one of Omegaman's links here) of a guy making all sorts of wrenches and stuff. Amazing.