Replicator

• Essentially identical concept as with the transporter
  • Tied together into a shared system (DS9 Novel: Mission Gamma: Cathedral)
• Permanently-stored molecular-resolution patterns for devices to be replicated
  • One isolinear chip sufficient to store a pattern for a single meal, suggesting home units fairly limited in selection (DS9 Novel: Gamma: Original Sin)
    • Central server? Global network for trading recipes/etc?
• Stored matter tank used as source material for materialization
  • Specific organic mix statistically similar to most food items available for food replication; other items require other base compounds of course (Reference: TNG Technical Manual)
    • Default dishes and other such items possibly organic plastic or polymer in home units to reduce base stock needs?
  • Replicators can dematerialize items to restock stored matter as needed
  • Matter streams directed on internal waveguides rather than open air transmission (DS9 Novel: Mission Gamma: Cathedral)
    • Increases efficiency and reduces overall error rate
• Not developed within the Federation until the 24th century (VOY: "Flashback")
  • Preceded by the food synthesizer (DIS; TOS)
• Limitations
  • Certain substances cannot be replicated
    • Latinum, dilithium, other exotic materials
      • Possibly due to hyper-molecular structure, fourth-dimensional configuration?
  • Living tissue unable to be replicated due to molecular-level resolution of stored patterns, materialization hardware (ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
  • Home units locked from replicating certain dangerous devices by hardware safeties (DS9 Novel: Gamma: Original Sin)
    • Pharmaceuticals, weapons, illegal items, etc.