So far, however, the rapid-prototyping machine simply produces an accurately shaped mould from which the plate is cast.

ECONOMIST: MONITOR

What's more, a machine-made surface produces the wrong kind of friction: to do its job precisely, the plate's surface needs minute scorings, of only a few microns each, where machine oil can reside.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | GizmoLand! | Man Beats Machine