I know this is probably the wrong comment to hang this on, but I was just thinking about it reading your mixed mode comment.
I can see shipping container type units fitted internally with multiple 3D printer types that are basically little mobile factories. Any part you need (withing certain volume and material limitations) can be produced on demand. These could easily be transported to remote locations to fully support all kinds of activities.
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I know this is probably the wrong comment to hang this on, but I was just thinking about it reading your mixed mode comment.
I can see shipping container type units fitted internally with multiple 3D printer types that are basically little mobile factories. Any part you need (withing certain volume and material limitations) can be produced on demand. These could easily be transported to remote locations to fully support all kinds of activities.
I swear, I was born 100 years too early.
The game is, how small can you make a general engineering factory?
You could do the shipping container version now, using existing prototyping tech and some well thought out robots to move parts between processes.
I suspect you can get most of them in one box though, and this will be becoming mainstream within ten years to fifteen.