Lucas and Michael are good friends. They are talking about 3D printing.

卢卡斯和迈克尔是好朋友。他们正在谈论3D打印。

• M: Tests are being done on the 3D printer. Do you want to come and see?
• 迈克尔：正在测试3D打印机，你想过来看看吗？
• L: What? Never heard of it.
• 卢卡斯：什么？从没听说过它。
• M: It is one of the latest technological innovations.
• 迈克尔：它是最新的科技创新之一。
• L: Really? Maybe its functionality is questionable.
• 卢卡斯：真的吗？或许它的功能还有待检验。
• M: Come on! You should learn to be open-minded.
• 迈克尔：哎呀，你应该思想开放一些。
• L: What are its main functions?
• 卢卡斯：它的主要功能是什么？
• M: 3D printing technology can be used in construction, engineering, biomedicine, education, and many other fields. In a word, it can print anything, a house, a car, even a liver!
• 迈克尔：3D打印技术可以应用于建筑、工程、生物医学、教育以及其他领域。简单地说，它可以打印任何东西，比如房子、汽车，甚至肝脏。
• L: That can't be true. I can't believe it.
• 卢卡斯：不可能！我不相信。
• M: It really is true. Absolutely all this will be carried out by 3D printers. Yesterday I saw an article in a newspaper. There's a company called Natural Machines which has introduced a 3D printer for food production. It deploys edible ingredients, squeezes them into a steel container, and then manipulates the container. You can get a sandwich in just one minute.
• 迈克尔：真的！3D打印技术绝对可以打印任何东西。昨天我在报纸上读到一篇文章。有一个叫作“大自然机器”的公司引进了一台3D打印机来打印食物。它调配各种原料，再把原料挤到一个钢制容器中，然后操作这个容器。一分钟之后，你就能得到一个汉堡包。
• L: I guess there would be a lot of procedures involved in this process. So this printer must be very big.
• 卢卡斯：我想，这个过程可能包括许多步骤，所以这台打印机肯定很大。
• M: In fact, it is as big as an oven. It can print all kinds of desserts and starters.
• 迈克尔：事实上，它和微波炉一样大，可以打印各种甜点和开胃菜。
• L: Is it expensive?
• 卢卡斯：它贵吗？
• M: It is about $1,000.
• 迈克尔：大概一千美元。
• L: Does it have any weaknesses?
• 卢卡斯：它有没有缺点？
• M: Yes, every coin has two sides. The most obvious weakness is that it prints very slowly. But with the development of technology, the time can be reduced. One day, even social software can be installed into 3D printers.
• 迈克尔：有，任何事物都有两面性。最明显的缺点就是打印速度太慢。但随着技术的进步，时间应该会缩短。说不定某一天，社交软件也可以安装到3D打印机里面。
• L: I hope that day will come soon.
• 卢卡斯：我希望那天能很快到来。