What can an industrial replicator do?

FaxModem1 · Post by **FaxModem1** » 2002-12-20 06:07pm

That's my question, I mean, what's the difference between it and a regular replicator? if any

Ted C · Post by **Ted C** » 2002-12-20 06:35pm

One might guess that it can fabricate larger objects in greater numbers than the wall units that we typically see, but to my knowledge we have never actually seen one in operation, so we have no idea of its limits.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2002-12-20 09:52pm

Ted C wrote:One might guess that it can fabricate larger objects in greater numbers than the wall units that we typically see, but to my knowledge we have never actually seen one in operation, so we have no idea of its limits.

Of course that won't stop certain obnoxious Trekkies from trying to claim that they can replicate starships at will.

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2002-12-20 10:00pm

It is most likely bigger.

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2002-12-21 01:01am

It leads me to another question of my own: exactly how much construction in ST is done with replicators (in particular ship construction)? I'm aware that some things like phasers, dilithium, and latinum can't be effectively replicated: are there more exceptions to that?

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2002-12-21 01:35am

beyond hope wrote:It leads me to another question of my own: exactly how much construction in ST is done with replicators (in particular ship construction)? I'm aware that some things like phasers, dilithium, and latinum can't be effectively replicated: are there more exceptions to that?

We know they can't accurately replicate certain foods and ribosomes so complex biologic structures seem to be beyond their ability to accurately replicate. But then again, those things aren't exactly useful for building a starship.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-12-21 02:41am

The metal hatch on a warp core can't be replicated; they had to pick one up at a starbase (and it had a manufacturing flaw, which caused an explosion, hence "The Drumhead").

Isolder74 · Post by **Isolder74** » 2002-12-21 05:01am

Darth Wong wrote:The metal hatch on a warp core can't be replicated; they had to pick one up at a starbase (and it had a manufacturing flaw, which caused an explosion, hence "The Drumhead").

Of course if it WAS replicated than I wouldn't touch a industrial replicator with a ten foot pole. The overuse of replicator is really silly cause in many instances it would be easier to build the object in normal ways. For example, it would probably be easier to make yourself a milkshake with real ice cream than have to worry about some digital glitch making it taste like manure.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2002-12-21 12:59pm

In one of the Shatner trilogies the Mirror Universe Kirk has his ppl build a huge super replicator. But even that could only design half a starship. Vival part still had to be constructed and added.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-12-21 01:13pm

Darth Pounder wrote:In one of the Shatner trilogies the Mirror Universe Kirk has his ppl build a huge super replicator. But even that could only design half a starship. Vival part still had to be constructed and added.

Trek books have nil value in debates.

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2002-12-21 01:37pm

Darth Wong wrote:The metal hatch on a warp core can't be replicated; they had to pick one up at a starbase (and it had a manufacturing flaw, which caused an explosion, hence "The Drumhead").

That makes 4 things I know of now, then. Does the warp core hatch have "extended periodic table" elements in it, that anyone knows of? It seems to be the common denominator in everything that they can't replicate (which will severely limit how many parts of a starship you can build with one.)

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2002-12-22 09:54pm

beyond hope wrote:That makes 4 things I know of now, then. Does the warp core hatch have "extended periodic table" elements in it, that anyone knows of? It seems to be the common denominator in everything that they can't replicate (which will severely limit how many parts of a starship you can build with one.)

Exotic elemetns is the common denominator? Food and ribosomes do not contain any exotic elements, yet they can't be replicated.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2002-12-24 02:29am

I suppose they can replicate things perfectly but lossy data compression screws this, and inefficiency in transmuting elements. I mean if transporters can disassemble/reassemble things perfectly to the quantum level why can't replicators?

Gecko · Post by **Gecko** » 2002-12-24 05:14am

Paramount Pictures has one. It is constantly spitting out some kind of terrible ci-fi series.

SpyderGS · Post by **SpyderGS** » 2002-12-24 12:32pm

The replicators are a variant on transporters. The limitations really have no rhyme or reason to them...simply a means of preventing Trek from becoming too powerful (as if). But when you look at it, the transporters/replicators are a technology far more powerful than should exist at that level. How much power does it take to start true matter/energy conversion? Do M/AM powerplants even put out enough power?