Replicator
- Essentially identical concept as with the transporter
- 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?
- One isolinear chip sufficient to store a pattern for a single meal, suggesting home units fairly limited in selection (DS9 Novel: Gamma: Original Sin)
- 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
- 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)
- Not developed within the Federation until the 24th century (VOY: "Flashback")
- Preceded by the food synthesizer (DIS; TOS)
- Limitations
- Certain substances cannot be replicated
- 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.