Fabbers

New Scientist has an article about a new fab@Home system for $2400

The fab@home

This system is in the fabber category which has different systems of different capabilities. The MIT Fab lab is described in many places

The MIT fablab is more expensive at $20,000-40000

There is also the inexpensive Reprap system which is about $500

Version 2.0 (Mendel) of the reprap will improve on the Darwin version 1

Mendel’s provisional list of planned improvements
Use of PLA as main plastic feedstock.
Metal deposition head.
Capable of manufacturing own electronics.
Automated exchangeable head mechanism.
USB Interface.
DC Servos instead of stepper motors.

There is the rapid prototyping industry