Tech Review Diamatrix

[John Locke]

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Extraordinarily hard and tough artificial diamond
• Transparent
• Can be created in any shape required

STRENGTHS

• Soft like clay:
  • The first step in the creation of Diamatrix is the extrusion of a carbon nanotube matrix, shaped in whatever form is required. A blade, a drill, a containment chamber, a window, the carbon nanotubes can very quickly be shaped into whatever is needed.
• Hard like Stone:
  • One the frame is in place, strands of loose carbon molecules are quickly layered over it, the carbon molecules coated with a cobalt solution which sinters them to one another (bonds the carbon molecules without forcing them to get hot enough to melt together). In this way an artificial diamond layer is rapidly built into the pre-designed space.
  • The synthetic diamond has all the qualities of real diamond, without the expense, or waste, of using real diamonds in the process. There are much better uses for a diamond after all.
    • Diamatrix provides extraordinary hardness, thermal conductivity and wear resistance, while the nanotube matrix deals with one of diamond's biggest problems—brittleness—by arresting cracks and distributing stresses through the composite.
    • The molecules are lined up so the outside facing molecules are aligned to provide a completely smooth surface, making it hard for any liquid or solid to gain a foothold. It also has the same effect on and dirt or stain.
      • That same smoothness of the surface of Diamatrix means that it makes a perfect material for use in medical procedures, or any other process which requires a sterile tool.
• On the edge:
  • The hardness and density of Diamatrix means that it holds it's edge very well, and if sharpened to a point, in a blade or drill, it takes a long time and force to dull the edge again making it the perfect material to use on tools and weapons.

WEAKNESSES

• Not going away:
  • Diamatrix is extremely tough, one a tool or structure has been formed it isn't going away easily. While this can be useful, for example setting up a containment chamber, or defences, it means when it's use is done it can be a pain to clear up.
• Heat
  • While an excellent thermal conductor, at extreme temperatures the various elements within the matrix start to expand at different rates, causing it to crack and shatter.
  • Like all diamonds Diamatrix reacts with molten ferrous metals, iron and steel, to break down chemically into iron carbide. Enough exposure to molten iron will eat right through Diamatrix.

DESCRIPTION

Like many Locke & Key Mechanics projects, Diamatrix began with an engineer being annoyed.

Expeditionary teams had long complained about carrying replacement components into the field. A mining team might require drills, pressure seals and structural braces. A medical team needed sterile instruments and containment vessels. Military customers wanted fortifications, replacement armour and cutting tools. Starships carried workshops containing thousands of components on the possibility that a handful might eventually be required.

Onboard manufacturing offered a partial solution, but conventional printed materials rarely possessed the properties of specialised manufactured components.

Locke & Key's engineers approached the problem from the opposite direction.

Rather than asking how many different objects a fabrication system could manufacture, they asked how many different objects could be manufactured from one material.

Their answer was eventually designated Diamatrix.

Early experiments used programmable carbon nanotubes to rapidly construct intricate three-dimensional frameworks. The breakthrough came when researchers discovered that these frameworks could serve as both mould and reinforcement for rapidly deposited synthetic diamond. Suddenly the printer wasn't producing a temporary replacement expected to last until a proper component could be obtained. It was producing components which were sometimes more durable than the objects they replaced.

Field trials rapidly expanded its intended applications.

A damaged viewport could be replaced with transparent Diamatrix. A mining drill could receive a new cutting head. A surgeon could fabricate an instrument moments before an operation. An exploration team could construct an airtight specimen chamber around something too dangerous to move. Engineers could manufacture bearings, braces, seals and tools without carrying any of them aboard their vessel.

Naturally, someone eventually printed a knife.

Locke & Key officially maintains that weapon manufacture was never a primary objective of the Diamatrix programme.

The company's engineers maintain that whoever believed an extraordinarily hard artificial diamond capable of being printed into virtually any shape would not immediately be turned into a weapon had clearly never met any of their customers.

 

[Admiral Burtch]

standby for review

 

[Admiral Burtch]

John Locke

As a professional field machinist, in-field fabrication and repair is literally my job description…

…and I love this…

As an in-field programmable material, I understand that this submission can be fabricated into a usable tool/weapon in the field. Therefore, how this submission receives instruction appears to be a critical component of this technology that would apply to live RP scenarios. Can you elaborate on the particular method by which this material receives instruction to take shape?

Furthermore, can you elaborate on the level of intricacy that this material can achieve? Is the user restricted to individual solid components and relatively simple mechanisms, or can it create complex moving/mechanical assemblies? In other words, is the user restricted to simple edged weapons, or can can he yell "GO GO GADGET FULLY AUTOMATIC CROSSBOW!" and start hosing Ewoks? Given that this material has viable PVP applications, elaborating on limitations of this feature can help prevent unintended abuse of this submission in the future.

Also, as a courtesy, a couple times the word "once" was misspelled "one" if you want to clean that up before the sub is locked in approved.

Please tag me when this is ready… sir…

 

[John Locke]

Admiral Burtch

It's always good to get feedback from someone actually in the industry!

Could you clarify what you mean by how it receives instruction? My initial thought was just that it is guided by a computer giving it program details. Whether this be a surgical droid using it to create a scalpel in micro surgery, or a war droid generating claws before combat, or a computer at a research station creating a room to house a specimen. Is that the answer you're looking for? Or is there some other information you're looking for?

The most complex mechanism is made up of lots of simple mechanisms which are put together. so I can see it taking time to put together something complex later by layer, but an automated crossbow sounds fun. Would you suggest I put a time limit in on making more complex subs to prevent it from instantly spawning a complex mechanism.

 

[Admiral Burtch]

Could you clarify what you mean by how it receives instruction? My initial thought was just that it is guided by a computer giving it program details. Whether this be a surgical droid using it to create a scalpel in micro surgery, or a war droid generating claws before combat, or a computer at a research station creating a room to house a specimen. Is that the answer you're looking for? Or is there some other information you're looking for?

Yes; sorry. I'll clarify what I mean.

What I'm looking for in this context is more specifically the medium by which those instructions are transmitted to the material. In order for the Diamatrix to physically change shape, it needs:

1. A method of translating information into physical movement; and

2. A source of energy to perform that movement.

For example, can it independently understand Droidspeak and morph under its own power? Does it require a physical or wireless connection to a computer? Can a Sith Lord wave his scabby little Mechu-Deru hands and command it to transform inside your pocket while you're busy shopping for feather pruning products?

That's the sort of thing I'm looking to have defined.

This matters primarily because establishing how the material can be commanded gives other writers something concrete to interact with and helps prevent open-ended exploitation in RP, either offensively or defensively.

The most complex mechanism is made up of lots of simple mechanisms which are put together. so I can see it taking time to put together something complex later by layer, but an automated crossbow sounds fun. Would you suggest I put a time limit in on making more complex subs to prevent it from instantly spawning a complex mechanism.

As for complexity, I think a build-time-to-complexity correlation would be a perfectly reasonable limitation. However, I have an alternative—or possibly complementary—recommendation: design time relative to complexity.

Something simple and uncomplicated could reasonably be generated very quickly from a basic command: a crude slashing blade, buckler shield, brace, wedge, etc. Once we're talking about complex mechanisms with multiple moving components and measurable PvP capabilities, however, I could see spontaneous creation getting into last-minute handwaving/item-spawning territory.

I can see two ways of handling that:

1. Live design: If the user is capable of rendering a complex design during RP—whether through a droid, computer, or because they're just that insanely smart—the complexity of the design determines how long that process takes. Something particularly elaborate or powerful might require a post or two to design and fabricate rather than simply appearing on demand. That gives other writers some opportunity to react and keeps the technology from becoming a last-second "whatever tool I need" button.

2. Prepared design files: Complex creations can instead use pre-existing design files, with anything substantial enough to require PvP ratings having its own appropriate Factory submission. The Diamatrix can then go "GO GO GADGET" and fabricate that established design without having to invent it from scratch in the middle of an encounter.

I don't necessarily think you need both restrictions exactly as I've described them, but defining the relationship between complexity, preparation, and fabrication time would give the technology much clearer boundaries while preserving what makes it useful.

This is a fun one, actually.

Please tag me when you're ready.

 

[John Locke]

Admiral Burtch

Ohhhh! I think I understand the misunderstanding. Diamatrix is a material, so it's created through an extrusion process where the frame is printed then the strands of diamonds are layered over that. But once it's done it's done. It's the same as if you printed a part in a 3D printer, you can define it's shape, but once that's done it can't change shapes anymore. So, upon creation it's hsape is chosen and the CNT frame os built, but after that, that's it. So if I want something else, I need to print something else.

So, let me give you an example. I'm working on an advanced droid right now who has carbon extruders build into it's frame. So, if it's getting into a fight, it can extrude and create a Diamatrix claw, but one that's done and it's set it can't change that claw into a sword. The claws would have to be destroyed and a whole new product created.

Does that make sense?

The variable form material is coming later

In terms of hte additional weakness, do you feel I need one?