It Never Breaks

Dear Impossible Readers,

There are two kinds of people. Those who thrive in a minimalist micro-apartment and those who can never have enough space. After all, capitalism keeps us hooked and our homes full. Yet, interior designs share one striking trait. There is no clutter. Right. Everything is perfectly tidy.  

We have already explored The Loomer, which revolutionises our closets, and the Edible Lab, which transforms our kitchens. This leaves us with the remaining, miscellaneous, capitalistic clutter. What if we could replace all of that as well?

Meet The Forge, where the Greek mythological Hephaestus encounters future technology. It is the ultimate must-have household 3D printer that prints on demand. Anything you need, from cutlery to plant pots, or small decorative items, including a screwdriver or a bobby pin.

With The Forge, everything you need can be printed on demand. The reusable nanoblocks are reprocessed and ready to become something entirely new. By turning clutter into convenience and ensuring nothing goes to waste, The Forge changes how we live, consume, and create.

Beyond convenience, The Forge could fundamentally alter our perspective on products. Instead of mass-producing items and shipping them globally, manufacturers might concentrate on digital designs.

At the core of The Forge lies a groundbreaking material. Nanoblocks are modular units designed to bond at the atomic or molecular level, enabling them to be reshaped and reused endlessly. The device uses a combination of additive manufacturing and molecular assembly methods, precisely layering nanoblocks to produce objects with exact geometry, strength, and durability. Advanced AI scanning guarantees accurate reproduction of complex or flexible items such as slippers or a small screwdriver. The process also incorporates temperature and pressure regulation at the microscale, allowing for seamless bonding without damaging the nanoblocks, ensuring every print matches the strength of the original material.

Modern 3D printing has progressed beyond simple plastics. Multi-material printers can combine flexible and rigid polymers, metals, and even ceramics in a single object. Researchers are exploring self-healing polymers and recyclable printing materials, where used items can be reprocessed into new filament. Molecular assembly techniques are also developing in laboratories, enabling precise control of atomic or nanoscale building blocks, though only on a small scale so far. Nanotechnology has produced modular units capable of forming complex structures, and AI-assisted scanning can reproduce real-world objects with high fidelity. These advances suggest that a reusable, universal home printer is conceptually aligned with the ongoing trajectory of current science.

Current multi-material 3D printers and recyclable polymers still face limitations in scale, speed, and precision compared to what The Forge would demand. True nanoblock assembly at home would require breakthroughs in molecular control and bonding reliability, while ensuring the material can endure repeated reuse without deterioration. Energy efficiency and safety also present obstacles. Managing heat, pressure, or chemical processes at a microscale must be both reliable and user-friendly. Lastly, integrating AI scanning to accurately replicate a wide range of everyday objects, from flexible slippers to delicate glassware, remains in its early stages. Overcoming these challenges will require advancements in materials science, nanoscale manufacturing, and AI-driven design.

In a world where we produce more than we consume, The Forge offers more than just convenience. It provides sustainability. By printing items on demand and reusing nearly every nanoblock, we significantly cut material waste, fostering a circular economy within our homes. Less mass production lowers CO₂ emissions at the source, while fewer deliveries and store trips cut traffic-related emissions. It envisions a future where convenience, creativity, and sustainability are intertwined.

Ctrl + Alt + Delete,
Yours Possibly

Further Reading

Agrawal, K. and Bhat, A.R., 2025. Advances in 3D printing with eco-friendly materials: a sustainable approach to manufacturing. RSC Sustainability, 3(6), pp.2582-2604.
Costello, L.F., McMenamin, P.G., Quayle, M.R., Bertram, J.F. and Adams, J.W., 2024. Applying 3D surface scanning technology to create photorealistic three-dimensional printed replicas of human anatomy. Future Science OA, 10(1), p.2381956.
Djonyabe Habiba, R., Malça, C. and Branco, R., 2024. Exploring the potential of recycled polymers for 3D printing applications: a review. Materials, 17(12), p.2915.
Griffiths, L., March 6, 2025. Backflip AI model turns 3D scans into 3D printable CAD files ‘in minutes’. TCT Magazine. [Accessed 7 December 2025].
Hasan, M.R., Davies, I.J., Pramanik, A., John, M. and Biswas, W.K., 2024. Potential of recycled PLA in 3D printing: A review. Sustainable manufacturing and service economics, 3, p.100020.
Hassan, M., Mohanty, A.K. and Misra, M., 2024. 3D printing in upcycling plastic and biomass waste to sustainable polymer blends and composites: A review. Materials & Design, 237, p.112558.
Ji, D., Liu, J., Zhao, J., Li, M., Rho, Y., Shin, H., Han, T.H. and Bae, J., 2024. Sustainable 3D printing by reversible salting-out effects with aqueous salt solutions. Nature Communications, 15(1), p.3925.
Klein, S., Avery, M., Adams, G., Pollard, S. and Simske, S., 2014, January. From scan to print: 3D printing as a means for replication. In NIP & digital fabrication conference (Vol. 30, pp. 417-421). Society for Imaging Science and Technology.
Melecio, N. Advancements in 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: Revolutionizing Rapid Prototyping, Customized Production, and Construction. Georgia Institute of Technology. [Accessed 7 December 2025].
Olawumi, M.A., Oladapo, B.I., Ikumapayi, O.M. and Akinyoola, J.O., 2023. Waste to wonder to explore possibilities with recycled materials in 3D printing. Science of the Total Environment, 905, p.167109.
Roppolo, I., Caprioli, M., Pirri, C.F. and Magdassi, S., 2024. 3D printing of self‐healing materials. Advanced Materials, 36(9), p.2305537.
Wickstrom, S., March 5, 2025. Applications of 3D Printing in Manufacturing. UltiMaker. [Accessed 7 December 2025].