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3D Gun Printing

Clearly, the solution is to license and register 3D printers, and to institute a close moniterization of the files people D/L on the internet.
 
If you already don't like MIM parts you'll LOVE this:lol:
 
I don't really see it being much of a problem. We're a LONG way away from being able to produce guns on a 3D printer that are anywhere near the quality of the ones you can buy in a gun store. And certain kinds of guns will remain illegal regardless.
 
Doesn't sound worth the bother when AK47's can be milled in an el-cheapo machine shop.
 
It's not really a question of the quality -- that will improve dramatically and get considerably cheaper.

It's that there's no way you can stop anyone from getting a gun in their own home -- for free, really -- once it happens.

It's coming one way or the other.

By the way, if you're reading me as objecting to this, don't.
 
The kind of plastics used in 3d printing are completely unsuited to making the barrel or breech of a firearm. The shock and heat from detonating gunpowder have a significant chance of rupturing weaker materials like ABS. The absolute minimum for gun design requires that it not blow up in your hand. If you want to make a homemade firearm, you are still going to need a hunk of steel and a CNC machine.
 
after having a 1913 .22 LR blow up on me during target practice when i was ten, i would caution that if you want to mess around with substandard firearms, good luck. that experience left me nearly deaf for a day, and considering that the charge fired out of the rear of the gun due to an incomplete seal of the chamber, i'm lucky that my eyes weren't injured.
 
rathi said:
The kind of plastics used in 3d printing are completely unsuited to making the barrel or breech of a firearm. The shock and heat from detonating gunpowder have a significant chance of rupturing weaker materials like ABS. The absolute minimum for gun design requires that it not blow up in your hand. If you want to make a homemade firearm, you are still going to need a hunk of steel and a CNC machine.
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People are already "printing" AR-15 lower receivers. There are AR-15's manufactured from composites and polymers these days, too. Only certain parts of a firearm really have to be made of steel, depending on the design of the weapon.
 
I think a lot of people are missing the entire point.

The point isn't that it will be a replacement for buying "real" firearms. No one suggests that.

The point is that these ARE guns which will work at least a couple of times, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop them from getting out there. Thus, any notion of "gun control" becomes functionally obsolete.
 
Surtr said:
People are already "printing" AR-15 lower receivers. There are AR-15's manufactured from composites and polymers these days, too. Only certain parts of a firearm really have to be made of steel, depending on the design of the weapon.
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The "certain parts" made of steel are the absolute requirements for a functional firearm. 3d printing can produce all sorts of useful firearms parts, but it cannot currently produce a complete and usable gun. I'd look for custom sized stocks, replacement parts and tacticool accesories from the 3d printers, not operational weapons.
 
Harshaw said:
I think a lot of people are missing the entire point.

The point isn't that it will be a replacement for buying "real" firearms. No one suggests that.

The point is that these ARE guns which will work at least a couple of times, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop them from getting out there. Thus, any notion of "gun control" becomes functionally obsolete.
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You can already make a zip gun today that doesn't require an expensive 3d printer. Probably safer since you can use better materials as well. The money spent on obtaining equipment could get real guns on the black market for cheaper, not to mention that few criminals are competent engineers.
 
rathi said:
The "certain parts" made of steel are the absolute requirements for a functional firearm. 3d printing can produce all sorts of useful firearms parts, but it cannot currently produce a complete and usable gun. I'd look for custom sized stocks, replacement parts and tacticool accesories from the 3d printers, not operational weapons.
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The only parts that absolutely need to be steel to function properly and safely are the chambered barrel, bolt assembly, and trigger assembly. Everything else can be made out of whatever will hold up. However, that's not the point.

The point is, the only part that requires a background check is what the ATF deems to be a receiver. If you can simply "print" a receiver at home, you can just order the rest of the parts without any prying, assemble them, and bing bang boom, you got an untraceable firearm.
 
rathi said:
You can already make a zip gun today that doesn't require an expensive 3d printer. Probably safer since you can use better materials as well. The money spent on obtaining equipment could get real guns on the black market for cheaper, not to mention that few criminals are competent engineers.
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You'd be surprised.
 
Surtr said:
The only parts that absolutely need to be steel to function properly and safely are the chambered barrel, bolt assembly, and trigger assembly. Everything else can be made out of whatever will hold up. However, that's not the point.

The point is, the only part that requires a background check is what the ATF deems to be a receiver. If you can simply "print" a receiver at home, you can just order the rest of the parts without any prying, assemble them, and bing bang boom, you got an untraceable firearm.
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That is a valid point, I was too focused on the technical. Not that there aren't existing ways around the current ATF rules, but this does make it easier.

You'd be surprised.
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Okay, I'll give some credit to Columbian narco sub-builders, but American criminals are not making their own kit. 30'd era gangsters actually had fairly extensive modifications to some of their weapons, but that era is long gone.
 
rathi said:
That is a valid point, I was too focused on the technical. Not that there aren't existing ways around the current ATF rules, but this does make it easier.
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All a person needs is some money, and a little ingenuity. Hell, someone could make a lower receiver for an AR-15 with some sturdy wood if they really wanted to. It might not last as long as cnc milled aluminum, but it'll last long enough to do the job.



Okay, I'll give some credit to Columbian narco sub-builders, but American criminals are not making their own kit. 30'd era gangsters actually had fairly extensive modifications to some of their weapons, but that era is long gone.
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You're underestimating the criminal element. there's a hell of a lot more than some low level bangers, pimps, and street dealers.
 
Surtr said:
You're underestimating the criminal element. there's a hell of a lot more than some low level bangers, pimps, and street dealers.
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Statistically speaking they really isn't, at least in the U.S. I've looked at the LAPD numbers on the sources of firearms confiscated from criminals and homemade weapons aren't even significant enough to get an entry on the bar chart.
 
rathi said:
Statistically speaking they really isn't, at least in the U.S. I've looked at the LAPD numbers on the sources of firearms confiscated from criminals and homemade weapons aren't even significant enough to get an entry on the bar chart.
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To be fair it's LA, and I presume those are only the ones who were dumb enough to get caught.
 
rathi said:
You can already make a zip gun today that doesn't require an expensive 3d printer. Probably safer since you can use better materials as well. The money spent on obtaining equipment could get real guns on the black market for cheaper, not to mention that few criminals are competent engineers.
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Why is it that you seem to think I'm saying this is a great way to get guns?

That was never the point.
 
Harshaw said:
Why is it that you seem to think I'm saying this is a great way to get guns?

That was never the point.
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You can purchase 6 axis CNC machines and Solid Works and or Auto Cad software for very reasonable prices. The prices generally start around a grand or so to get set up with the bare minimum CNC machine setup. I purchased at auction a very lightly used industrial CNC machine from auction at Lawrence Livermore Labratories that normally is sold for 250,000 new, for about 19,000. It is an extrodinarily accurate and precise machine. You dont really need that much precision and accuracy of those machines because a simple Smithy machine will do just fine for basic gunsmithing and manufacture. Smithies can be had for around a thousand or so depending on the model and what features you get. Bottom line people have been able to manufature quality firearms for sometime with no one watching over their shoulder. With CNC machine you manufacture one offs or copies all you need is the material, which can be had very reasonably. Billet material is sold by the pound and you can easily get what ever grade you want. I buy custom alloys which are VERY expensive, and machine gas turbine parts out of it. But for ordinary firearms you can get the appropriate alloys and superior alloys all day long inexpensively if they are standard. How do you think most of the custom and boutique firarms manufacturers do it.
I use plastic and laser cutting printers in my hobby work they have their uses especialy for working out manufacturing bugs and models, and small plastic parts. As you can see gun control is really a moot point. They can be made easily and anomously.

Side note. There is little I dont love more than walking into my shop in the morning with a cup of joe and a cigar, saying to myself "What am I going to make today. Hmmmm."
 
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