Truly DYI weapon in your future?

[candrpotts]

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/3-d-printed-gun-project-derailed-legal-woes-6213570

Don't know if any of you have seen this yet but I thought you license holders might be more than a little interested. A little scary if you get past the knee-jerk "cool" reaction.

 

[HMFIC]

Interesting!

 

[NikatKimber]

I don't want to be the one pulling the trigger on a gun with a printed barrel. I've dealt with 3D printed parts a fair bit, but the barrel, breech face, and firing pins are something that currently are beyond the capability of printed materials. Frame, trigger components, maybe even the slide; sure. But not the parts that handle the pressure.

And other than that, no, I don't find it scary. Currently anyone with access to a mill can make a gun currently, and legally, for personal use.

 

[MLRyan]

Get ready for shapes to be illegal...

 

[NikatKimber]

Oooh! It looks like a gun! Ban it! Quick! Before it breeds and commits heinous acts of violence!

 

[criticalbass]

Scary? When you can print your own weapon, control of that capability will break down. Gun control will go 'bye 'bye. Sure, equipment is currently pricy and scarce, and there is no good example of a usable weapon yet, but look at technological history and expect to be able to do this a few years from now.

Excites the hell out of me. I can see a time when you buy the programming for damned near anything and print it out at home.

 

[bettingpython]

So? Just some company with a Liberal agenda. They "immediately canceled the contract and sent someone out to pick the machine up". If I had paid for the machine or it's lease I think I might be suing for breach of contract

It's already possible to easily make full auto firearms at home, but it's illegal just the same as a "3D printed" full auto firearm would be. The difference is the tools you use to do it with.

And as was pointed out individual manufacture of a firearm is already perfectly legal.

 

[JesseR]

Its easier to build a solid working gun without the fear of it blowing up on you. Just look at the Sheet meal MP5 platform. You can easily buy "flats" all day long and roll them with nothing more then a cheap Harbor freight press. You don't even have to be great welder to finish it out. Just food for thought! I'd like to see these boys be successful and produce a reliable and safe product.

 

[candrpotts]

my biggest concern is bringing the construction costs and capability down to the level of those who would make trouble for the rest of us. Sure anyone with access to a mill and the design and programming ability to run the thing can manufacture weapons. However, if you bring it down to the level of downloading a file and sending to the printer, how long till someone in Iran builds the CAD files to build something horrific and uploads them to a terrorist cell somewhere?

But there are still the limitations of the available materials.....

 

[Boehlertaught]

Rather interesting I agree. If you made a banner advertising this...would folks think you were not for it? Ah...banner...get it??? Sorry, it's been a long morning.