History Main / MatterReplicator

* ''VideoGame/StarcraftIIWingsOfLiberty'' mentions a "nano-fabricator" in one of Stettman's research notes. Which may justify the RidiculouslyFastConstruction.

* The UNN ''Von Braun'' in [[VideoGame/SystemShock System Shock 2]] has "Value-Rep" replicators, which your character can use to buy items using [[{{Nanomachines}} nanites]] that build them upon being purchased. The replicators can also be hacked into giving you reduced prices and even different items altogether.

* In Einstein's theories (the famous E=mc[[superscript:2]]), it is possible to replicate energy into matter and vice versa while still following that pesky law of equivalent exchange, just like [[Anime/FullMetalAlchemist alchemy]] and Star Trek's replicators, but in order to assemble 1 kilogram of matter, you need to consume as much energy as the detonation of 21.5 megatons of TNT. As a result of other conservation laws, you won't be able to get a kilo of ordinary matter - instead, you'll get half a kilo of matter and half a kilo of antimatter (which, unless contained, will annihilate with ordinary matter yielding back most of the energy you started with and making the whole thing an exercise in futility).

* ''Series/TheOrville'', being an homage to ''Franchise/StarTrek'', has replicators. Kelly credits their invention as the backbone of the Union's post-scarcity economy. The series has some fun with the concept by having the most frequent items requested be booze and recreational drugs (cannabis, specifically). The ship also has a separate room with larger replicators featuring flat tops that are used to replicate large or awkwardly shaped objects.

** It's mentioned in various episodes that replicated food is not as good as the real thing, meaning it is functional but doesn't quite replace traditional food sources. There is also a point made that cooking basic replicated ingredients into more complex items 'tastes better' than replicating the end product itself. Finding quality ingredients can be an issue, and there are also maintained physical industries for things such as alcohol, as Guinan and Picard had stockpiled their own supplies on board.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Alchemists are basically walking matter replicators, limited only by that [[EquivalentExchange pesky Newtonian law]]. While most Alchemists specialize in a particular kind of transformation, it's implied that with the right [[FunctionalMagic knowledge and transmutation circle]], an Alchemist can do practically anything...except, of course, resurrect the dead, create an ArtificialHuman or do anything related to souls. Seriously, [[CameBackWrong it's a bad idea to even try it.]]
** The Philosopher Stone is the ultimate alchemy tool, as it can do everything above perfectly without the EquivalentExchange rule. The only problem is making the damn thing. [[spoiler:Depending on if you're talking about [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime]] or the original manga and its adaptation, creating a stone will only require a handful of human sacrifices, or an entire country's worth of them.]]

** There are certain things the replicator can't make: [[GreenRocks Dilithium, Benamite,]][[note]]The latter is used in "quantum slipstream drives" and can be synthesized (with difficulty), but not replicated. The former can be "regenerated" from [=TNG=] on, but if you break it, it's basically gone.[[/note]] living things,[[note]] because living things need "quantum resolution" of transporters, as opposed to the "molecular resolution" of the replicator.[[/note]] PureEnergy,[[note]]Because of EquivalentExchange of course, and replicators consume energy. For instance, you can replicate a battery, but it will be uncharged. You ''can'' replicate energy ''sources'' at a loss, such as gunpowder. See the [=DS9=] novel ''Fallen Heroes'' for details.[[/note]] latinum (a {{handwave}} to allow currency to exist in the same universe as replicators), and antimatter (for obvious kaboomy reasons).

* Rimuru, the main character of ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'', is a slime monster with a [[MinMaxing synergistic combination of skills]] that allow him to dissolve and analyze any object he eats and make exact copies from stored materials. He can also refine what he consumes into directly usable and highly potent resources.

* The Grumpy Converter of Bluxte, from the comic adapted into ''Film/ValerianAndTheCityOfAThousandPlanets'', is a tiny creature that makes thousands of copies of whatever it ingests, apparently evolved naturally as a way to recycle the supply of fruit and seeds it eats. Its metabolism is comparable to a nuclear reactor, and when exhausted from copying it can be plugged into any energy source to "recharge". Nobody [[BlackBox knows how its physiology works]], because any examination tools dissolve when entering its body.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* In ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'', when Calvin introduces his cardboard-box duplicator to Hobbes, he notes that "counterfeiting is just ''one'' of its many uses around the home!" However, he only seems to use it to [[MesACrowd clone himself]].
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* Dubbed fabricators in ''Fanfic/WorldWarEtheria'', a RationalFic of ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'' are products of the [[{{Precursers}} First Ones]]. Like many examples mentioned here they're treated as very sophisticated 3d-printers and as such are restricted to base materials on hand such as needing to make circuit boards out of sand and appropriate metals as need be, with the added caveat that they "pattern crystals" for the various sophisticated projects they can do. With this out of the way they can create sophisticated prosthetics, armor, weapons, vehicles even more versions of itself. Later shown that properly equipped ones can create edible organic food too, even beer, interestingly this can extend into creating organic replacements for limbs.

* ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}'' has these in the form of makers, which all seem to come with an AI and require large blocks of non-radioactive material as a base. Spider's mafia-made one spends most of its time producing drugs. [[GettingHighOnTheirOwnSupply For itself]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}} and the Lake of Sharks'' features a semi-functional duplicator developed by Professor Calculus, and HilarityEnsues when Rastapopoulos steals it and attempts to use it for his own ends.

* One [[ComicBook/DonaldDuck Gyro Gearloose]] comic has him invent a replicator. To make sure it can't be used for counterfeiting, he explains the machine always stamps his initials onto the copied product. The Beagle Boys steal it anyway.

Note that the name "Matter Replicator" is itself somewhat misleading; it's rare to find one that can actually make [[ShapeshifterBaggage something out of]] [[NoConservationOfEnergy nothing]] (that [[EquivalentExchange one law of thermodynamics that usually can't be broken]] without breaking WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief as well). A Matter Replicator can use ''pre-existing'' matter to replicate something else, or perhaps use it to transmute something into entirely new. Creations made of HardLight need not apply here, but {{Nanomachines}} often do. If the characters are using it to replicate ''humans'' or other sentient or living beings, see MakeMyIndexLive

* Jesus "feeding the crowd with fish and bread" might actually qualify.

* ''Franchise/StargateVerse'': The Asgard & Ancients both have them, but they don't show up very often and Earth doesn't gain regular access to one until the final episode of ''Series/StargateSG1'', which also makes the logical point that {{Teleport|ation}}er=(Matter Replicator + Radio), so if you have one you have the other.

** There are certain things the replicator can't make: [[GreenRocks Dilithium, Benamite,]][[note]] The latter is used in "quantum slipstream drives" and can be synthesized (with difficulty), but not replicated. The former can be "regenerated" from [=TNG=] on, but if you break it, it's basically gone.[[/note]] living things[[note]] because living things need "quantum resolution" of transporters, as opposed to the "molecular resolution" of the replicator.[[/note]], PureEnergy [[note]]Because of EquivalentExchange of course, and replicators consume energy. For instance, you can replicate a battery, but it will be uncharged. You ''can'' replicate energy ''sources'' at a loss, such as gunpowder. See the [=DS9=] novel ''Fallen Heroes'' for details.[[/note]], latinum (a {{handwave}} to allow currency to exist in the same universe as replicators), and antimatter (for obvious kaboomy reasons).

* George O. Smith's [[https://archive.org/stream/Astounding_v35n04_1945-06_AK#page/n6/mode/1up "Pandora's Millions"]], part of the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Equilateral Venus Equilateral]]'' series, is a detailed examination of the economic damage that could be caused by the invention of a matter replicator. The problem is only resolved when the protagonists invent a material that explodes violently when exposed to the replicator's scanning beam, which can be used as a medium of exchange.

* ''Franchise/StargateVerse'': The more advanced races have them, but they don't show up very often. The final episode of ''Series/StargateSG1'' makes the logical point that {{Teleport|ation}}er=(Matter Replicator + Radio), so if you have one you have the other.

** It's mentioned in various episodes that replicated food is not as good as the real thing, meaning it is functional but doesn't quite replace traditional food sources. Of course, finding quality ingredients has proven to be an issue. On top of that there is still maintained industries for things such as alcohol, as Guinan and Picard had stockpiled their own supplies on board.

* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' had an episode where a villain used a wrist mounted version to "twin" people.

* ''Series/ComeBackMrsNoah''. [[SpaceStation Britannia Seven]] has a multi-billion pound wonder of British technology that, after [[OverlyLongGag excessive button-pushing]], ejects the item requested with a [[ToiletHumor farting sound]]. Usually not quite the item they requested.

* ''Film/TheNudeBomb''. Maxwell Smart discovers that a KAOS scientist has invented an "instant cloning machine" that can replicate living people. In the climactic battle both sides use it to create an army of Control agents and KAOS villains to attack each other, before the machine was destroyed from overuse.

** Another arc revolves around a WellIntentionedExtremist trying to make a clone of his dead wife from a replicator template, then download her neural template into the clone. [[spoiler: However, the replicator template was made at such a precise resolution that the clone came out "alive", with its own mind and personality. Downloading the template would have destroyed the existing mind, which is classed as a form of murder, and the template itself helped the clone escape to prevent that happening.]]

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' has Standard Template Constructs (STC). Extremely powerful replicators, able to create anything from kitchen utensils to buildings to gigantic, artificially intelligent robots. The STC themselves are capable of scanning any environment it is placed in and listing what schematics could be made with the resources available. These were given to human colonies tens of thousands of years before the start of the franchise's timeline, allowing humanity to easily colonize any world it settled on. STC now are considered the most valuable and important parts of ''LostTechnology'' by the Adeptus Mechanicus, as having a fully functional STC and a fully completed database of schematics would allow humanity to easily reconquer the galaxy has they had many eons ago. To put it in persepective: two IG scouts discovered an STC for a slightly different combat knife. They were given a ''planet'' as thanks. Each. However, there's a massive case of DependingOnTheWriter around them and outright replicators (as opposed to automated factories or databases with easy-to-follow instructions) is now EarlyInstallmentWeirdness.

* In ''{{TabletopGame/Lancer}}'', "Printers" are a key component of Union's PostScarcityEconomy. Simple objects like disposable tools, hard cover panels, and replacement blades can all be "flash-printed," while an entire mech, complete with a full complement of weapons and wargear, can be printed from scratch over the course of 10 hours.

* In Einstein's theories (the famous E=mc[[superscript:2]]), it is possible to replicate energy into matter and vice versa while still following that pesky law of equivalent exchange, just like [[Anime/FullMetalAlchemist alchemy]] and Star Trek's replicators, but in order to assemble 1 kilogram of matter, you need to consume as much energy as the detonation of 21.5 megatons of TNT. As a result of other conservation laws, you won't be able to get a kilo of ordinary matter - instead, you'll get half a kilo of matter and half a kilo of antimatter (which, unless contained, will annihilate with ordinary matter yielding back the energy you started with and making the whole thing an exercise in futility).

* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Samus' Chozo-built suit seems to use this technology. It can turn into energy when not in use, can change back and forth from a spherical shape, and it has storage capacity for more missiles than the suit should physically be able to hold. In ''Fusion'', upgrades for Samus' suit are sent to her as computer data and are downloaded into her suit.

* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Samus' Chozo-built suit seems to use this technology. It can turn into energy when not in use, can change back and forth from a spherical shape, and it has storage capacity for more missiles than the suit should physically be able to hold.

** The Philosopher Stone is the ultimate alchemy tool, as it can do everything above perfectly without the EquivalentExchange rule. The only problem is making the damn thing, [[spoiler: which requires an entire war's worth of human sacrifice.]]

* ''WebSite/AtomicRockets'' gives the hard-scifi version of this the amusing name of "SantaClaus Engine," on the grounds that you can ask it for anything and you'll get it as long as you don't ask for anything "naughty" and get put on the blacklist, just like sending a letter to Santa. It involves using a fusion reactor to flash-vaporize raw materials into plasma, and using a series of magnetized plates to capture the purified elements. These are boxed / bottled up and used to feed an automatic factory, called a "fabber" (and the fusion reactor can be used to power the whole thing to boot). Since this makes it exceptionally easy to manufacture illegal substances (not just recreational drugs, but highly-enriched fissile materials for making nukes), these would need to be strictly policed by a special branch of the military (Santa's elves, if you will).