A lot of complaints regarding R&D is that all its gains are confined within its walls and the scientists get all the toys. My suggestion is the following:
- Create a category tagging system that can have any of the following tags: Security, Medical, Engineering and Science. Untagged designs are considered "General" and can be downloaded by anyone, including the autolathes. Some designs may have more than one tag, which makes them an "either/or" access design.
- Give every department a protolathe and circuit imprinter and a special Research console. These consoles are tagged locked and can only download designs with their allowed tag (Engineering can only download engineering designs, security can only download security designs etc). R&D's console will remain as it is and be considered a "Master" console.
- Assign appropiate tags to lal R&D designs.
- And finally, connect autolathes to the research network and able to download any design that is both "General" access and only requires metal and/or glass to make. Disks can still be used to upload restricted access designs.
I understand that materials will be strained further but at this time I don't think it's too much of a concern. And the ORM ought to have a greater degree of access to reflect this change of affairs, or be made general access (not that it matters cause you can just screwdriver/crowbar it to get all the minerals out).