Editing STA A More Perfect Union (section)

===<u>Replicators</u>===
Given enough of the right kinds of raw materials, replicators can produce just about any non-living material, or manufactured good. Replicators are not alchemy - they cannot turn one fundamental element of matter into another (no proverbial lead into gold). The largest industrial replicators can easily make most large construction projects (up to and including building a Starship or Starbase) go very quickly.

Replicator's require a set of quantum computing circuits and quantum meta-materials to work properly. These required components represent less than 10% of the overall mass of a replicator. This is important, because of the things a replicator can <b>NOT</b> replicate under any circumstances:

*Any quantum circuitry, quantum materials, or catomic (matter comprised of claytronic atoms) material.
*Living matter, without first scanning and copying an original's quantum biosignature, the process of doing so destroys the original (c.f. transporters)

The implication here is that a Replicator can print most, but not all, of the components required to build a Replicator, a Transporter, or a Warp Drive (and much technology used by the Borg). A bit of "by hand" manufacturing with the right exotic materials and specialized tools and methods is required, as is the final assembly.

One other note, the food and drinks produced by a replicator, contrary to popular portrayals, can only ever be "ok" - reaching the level of middling college cafeteria food at best. Replicator produced food and drink is edible and potable, and provides nourishment. Few would claim to "enjoy" replicator food (though tastes do vary). For any high quality dining and drinking, cooking the old fashioned way is still best.

Replicators come in classes, that roughly equate to the types of things they are capable of producing, again, given enough raw materials.
*Class 1 Replicators are for personal, civilian use (producing things a person might use/consume)
*Class 2 Replicators are for communal civilian use (producing things that, when assembled, could be of use to a small community)
*Class 3 Replicators are for large scale, civilian, terrestrial construction projects
*Class 4 Replicators are for personal, Alliance Starfleet use (all of what class 1 can do plus, components for a phaser, for instance)
*Class 5 Replicators are for Alliance Starfleet Starship scale uses (components and replacement parts for ships scale 5 and smaller)
*Class 6 Replicators are for Alliance Starfleet Capital Starship scale uses (components and replacement parts for ships scale 6 & 7)
*Class 7 Replicators are for Alliance Starfleet Starbase scale uses
*Class 8 Replicators are for Alliance Starfleet major construction projects (think replicating the components required to build a Starship construction shipyard)

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