What is the benefit of a 3D printable gun (legal, criminal or otherwis

[Granett]

The thing looks pretty impractical and I would have thought you could manufacture one more easily and with better results out of other materials.

 

What am I missing?

 

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22464360

[Twistedsanity]

That you don't need any skills whatsoever apart from a bit of geekery, most people I know don't know which end to hold a left handed hammer by let alone what to do with one

[turbo33]

Its not the gun so much as an example of the technology and where its going.The term 3d printing is a bit misleading. The "3D" printer is essentially a bucket of liquid that can form a solid mass. With the aid of a grid/lasers and info from a cad programme or drawing it will be able to turn a picture or drawing into a solid mass. Its been used in the automotive industry for years to make things like engine blocks out of resin for design/fit purposes. It won't be long before you download a purchase of a solid object and "print" it as opposed to ordering it online or the old fashioned route of buying it in a shop. It will start with simple things like a cup for example, and as the technology moves forward, internal parts will be easily "printed" within the object for example a wrist watch.

Scary huh

[Billy.]

3D printing is certainly the way forward and this is an example of the dangers of what will come from it.

 

A lot of people have ink/laser printers at home. Once upon a time these would have cost literally thousands to buy, but due to cheaper parts and advancements in technology they can be bought for as cheap at £30 these days. Desktop 3D printers will cost between $2000-3000 at the moment for the junior stuff.

 

There will soon be a time when 3D printers are common in homes. Why bother going to the shops to buy a new iPhone case, when you could just download it and print it in 15 minutes, in any colour you like (perhaps no one sells a bright orange case). The back of the TV remote which is sellotaped in place could be quickly printed and back to new in no time - no need to buy a brand new remote.

 

If you can print day to day objects, at such a low cost, then the attraction to print a gun which will successfully fire 1-10 shots is quite beneficial to some people. Bullets are easily available whereas 'lost' guns aren't so.

 

Again, this isn't limited to entire guns, but components for guns too. You could very easily build a fully functioning sound moderator for a .22LR rifle.

The "3D" printer is essentially a bucket of liquid that can form a solid mass.

 

It's actually a reel of 'wire' which is melted and then solidifies. It's a bit like how a glue gun works.

 

Correction: Unless it's a photopolymerization printer.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Billy.

[aris]

It's actually a reel of 'wire' which is melted and then solidifies. It's a bit like how a glue gun works.

 

Some 3d printers use liquid vat and a laser to set the liquid into a solid.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography

[Billy.]

Some 3d printers use liquid vat and a laser to set the liquid into a solid.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography

 

Yes, I corrected my comment.

[Mikaveli]

One great potential use is for classic car or bike parts (or whatever really).

 

Currently, by the time your bike gets to be 20 years old, no one has new parts for it. Imagine if you could just download the design, and print off all the spares you need.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Mikaveli

[turbo33]

Many uses round the house too

[al4x]

I'm yet to see them print some 3d ammo though without which the gun is technically not much use

[Billy.]

I'm yet to see them print some 3d ammo though without which the gun is technically not much use

 

Ammo is far easier to acquire than a gun.

[lees]

I'd say the problem isn't how 'easy' it is to get a printed gun, but the fact that it won't set off metal detectors.

[al4x]

the ammo should though

[Malik]

If you print this off, is it not automatically a section 5? Th guy that created it, cody wilson seems abit of a slime ball to be honest. Out for abit of attention.

[Billy.]

A person doesn't need ammunition in a gun to make someone hold their hands up and do as they say...

If you print this off, is it not automatically a section 5? Th guy that created it, cody wilson seems abit of a slime ball to be honest. Out for abit of attention.

 

Probably, but would you really be bothered about the law if you were making one?!

Edited May 9, 2013 by Billy.

[al4x]

A person doesn't need ammunition in a gun to make someone hold their hands up and do as they say...

 

you might assume that if that got pointed at you the first thought would be you are about to get wet!

 

If you are after making an impact a legal replica might be a better option

[TrapFiller]

 

I'd say the problem isn't how 'easy' it is to get a printed gun, but the fact that it won't set off metal detectors.

The firing pin and ammo will though.

[Billy.]

you might assume that if that got pointed at you the first thought would be you are about to get wet!

 

If you are after making an impact a legal replica might be a better option

 

Yes, I get that, but on the subject of a plane, you know someone's not going to get a purchased replica pistol through an X-Ray machine.

 

The replica ones still have metal and moving parts. Given the reports of people escaping jail with a carved bit of soap in the shape of a gun, you'd probably manage a fair bit with a plastic printed one and a lick of black paint.

[Breastman]

The firing pin and ammo will though.

The only metal part in that gun is a strip of steel plate the manufacturers put in themselves to get around the US 'Undetectable Gun Act'

Edited May 10, 2013 by Breastman

[saddler]

Its not the gun so much as an example of the technology and where its going.The term 3d printing is a bit misleading. The "3D" printer is essentially a bucket of liquid that can form a solid mass. With the aid of a grid/lasers and info from a cad programme or drawing it will be able to turn a picture or drawing into a solid mass. Its been used in the automotive industry for years to make things like engine blocks out of resin for design/fit purposes. It won't be long before you download a purchase of a solid object and "print" it as opposed to ordering it online or the old fashioned route of buying it in a shop. It will start with simple things like a cup for example, and as the technology moves forward, internal parts will be easily "printed" within the object for example a wrist watch.

Scary huh

 

Not long - try RIGHT NOW - or should I say four months ago??

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/18/nokia-3d-cases

 

Nokia mobile phones are already offering this. It'll not be long before the rest of big business catches up....THEN things are going to get real interesting real quick !!

 

The advantages to 3-d printing are going to have a bigger knock-on effect to supply chains & current infrastructure than the petrol engine had on horse-drawn carriages.

 

6 a.m.? Need a part for your phone before you head out to work?

Go to the firm website, pay the "i-toones" type 50p licence fee/choose a free design - download, hit print = new phone part without P&P costs, delivery delays, etc.

...now transpose "phone" above with "insert household item/product type" - the size of the parts available will only be limited by the size of the printer...

 

As far as guns & the UK market is concerned, the advantage will not be the complete firearm, it will be the spare parts and accessories side of the equation...so new scope bases, trigger guards, magazine base plates, etc etc.

ANY non FAC part that can be made from metal or plastic or a nylon hybrid, etc. No ITAR to add to the paperwork/delay - no waiting for post, no £15 handling charge, etc. etc.

[goodo123]

Cam machines have been around for years, used by workshops, manufacturers even some people at home, these could produce a exact copy of pretty much any gun, they machine whatever material you put in them. The gun he has designed is so simple it could probably be made by hand cheaper . Anyone is pretty much capable of manufacturing a device to fire a cartridge projectile if they have the want to do so. In effect what I'm trying to say is there trying to highlight this big "new" problem or issue what has existed long before someone invented a 3d printer. Could it be a conspiracy to try stop home manufacturing? Probably not but it does make you think

[aris]

Indeed - there videos on youtube of entire engine blocks CNC'd out of one solid billet of aluminum. Amazing to watch. I think the difference with 3d printing is that these devices is that in 10 years time they _will_ be as common as inkjet printers are now.

[Billy.]

Ahh engine blocks.

 

Here's a bit of machinery porn for you.

 

Edited May 10, 2013 by Billy.