If all else fails, pick up a copy of the book Fab, which is about personal fabrication -- ie "printing" plastic and such with your computer. I read it about 4 to 5 years ago and at that time a lot of the ideas were pretty cutting edge and not really available to the public. I bet a lot has changed in that time.

http://www.amazon.com/FAB-Revolution-Desktop-Computers-Fabri...

And good luck.