Comment Much Better Rapid Prototyping Machines Exist (Score 4, Informative) 285
I'm not sure what the big deal is about this particular rapid prototyping machine at Bath.
Hod Lipson's lab at Cornell, for instance, has been able to create a solid freeform fabrication system which can print plastic, metal, circuits, actuators, and even batteries! They are, in my opinion, much further along than the referenced article.
Other related projects of include Chrikjian's work at Johns Hopkins, and Jordan Pollack's DEMO Lab at Brandeis University.