3D printing back in the news for guns.

[Black Dog]

The Liberator, for all the hoopla, was not really a gun. This 3D-printed firearm, on the other hand, is a gun. It is a copy of a 1911 made using public-domain plans and a laser sintering system that solidifies metal powder. It fires just like a real semi-automatic pistol - Engineers Build The World

If this works out and is deemed viable. Do you think it will lead to a major drop in gun prices and possibly even more regulation do to a possibly much cheaper ways to produce guns?

 

[cpwill]

:shrug: All I know is, at the beginning of the year, I bought stock in two 3D printing companies. I checked last night and they are up 50% and 25%, respectively. Someone thinks it's possible .

 

[WillyPete]

From the related TechCrunch article.

The printers cost over $500,000 and McGowan noted that they are “professional engineers working with professional machines for professional clients.”

This technology has a lot of potential, but it's still extremely expensive.

We're talking about reconstituting powdered metal to be as strong as solid steel, apparently by melting it with lasers. We aren't going to have that in our homes anytime soon.

 

[WCH]

First guns, now boobs

3-D Tissue Printing Will Help Women with Breast Cancer - UTEP News - University Communications

 

[DVSentinel]

Would be nice if it didn't cost so much.

Wonder what the total manufacturing cost is compared to traditional metal working. It has great potential to really reduce labor costs in a lot of areas. While they are focused apparently on metal powders, I don't see that ceramic powders would be any harder to use.

Now I just need an idea that would sell enough to afford that blasted thing. And of course a banker willing to lay out to initial costs in a loan.

 

[jamesrage]

From the related TechCrunch article.



This technology has a lot of potential, but it's still extremely expensive.

We're talking about reconstituting powdered metal to be as strong as solid steel, apparently by melting it with lasers. We aren't going to have that in our homes anytime soon.

Someone who can throw money away on a printer like that probably doesn't have any problems getting any gun they want.

 

[Surtr]

...a laser sintering system that solidifies metal powder...

With all the hate towards MIM parts (this process is no different in terms of the final product) I doubt it will have any effect on gun manufacturers at all.

 

[Black Dog]

With all the hate towards MIM parts (this process is no different in terms of the final product) I doubt it will have any effect on gun manufacturers at all.

Well so far you have been wrong on all counts when it cones to 3d printing. I think you will be wrong on this as well.

 

[Surtr]

No, you just ignored the fact that the liberator blew up when using a cartridge that was more powerful than a 380 ACP, and that such a huge a clunky piece of crap has absolutely no purpose. Too big to conceal, too weak to fire a cartridge that's worth a damn, and it requires a printer that costs more than a Dan Wesson, which will outlive anything that printer can crank out. And you ignored the fact that people aren't rushing out to buy the thousands of dollars of equipment it takes to make one of these worthless gimmicks. They're buying real guns made by real manufactures who know what they're doing.

Go ahead and make one of those hand grenades if you want. Don't expect pity when you end up in the ER.

 

[Black Dog]

No, you just ignored the fact that the liberator blew up when using a cartridge that was more powerful than a 380 ACP, and that such a huge a clunky piece of crap has absolutely no purpose. Too big to conceal, too weak to fire a cartridge that's worth a damn, and it requires a printer that costs more than a Dan Wesson, which will outlive anything that printer can crank out. And you ignored the fact that people aren't rushing out to buy the thousands of dollars of equipment it takes to make one of these worthless gimmicks. They're buying real guns made by real manufactures who know what they're doing.

Go ahead and make one of those hand grenades if you want. Don't expect pity when you end up in the ER.

Dose not matter. That is all irrelevant.

Fact: You were wrong then.
Fact: You are wrong now.
Fact: You will continue to be wrong. :lol:

 

[DVSentinel]

No, you just ignored the fact that the liberator blew up when using a cartridge that was more powerful than a 380 ACP, and that such a huge a clunky piece of crap has absolutely no purpose. Too big to conceal, too weak to fire a cartridge that's worth a damn, and it requires a printer that costs more than a Dan Wesson, which will outlive anything that printer can crank out. And you ignored the fact that people aren't rushing out to buy the thousands of dollars of equipment it takes to make one of these worthless gimmicks. They're buying real guns made by real manufactures who know what they're doing.

Go ahead and make one of those hand grenades if you want. Don't expect pity when you end up in the ER.

And you are comparing a cheap plastic proof of concept to metal/ceramics. The original was done only to prove the process, not the material. This new one changes the material used in the process. It can now also be used to fine tune the process with the materials, allowing greater quality of production.

As to the cost. Sure, it's expensive now. But then, any new technology is expensive. How much were the first cd players? DVD players? CD drives? etc...

 

[DVSentinel]

Dose not matter. That is all irrelevant.

Fact: You were wrong then.
Fact: You are wrong now.
Fact: You will continue to be wrong. :lol:

Check this out, a home made laser CNC machine. http://www.buildlog.net/cnc_laser/index.php Shouldn't cost that much more to add the powder trays and the roller, then retune the laser. Software might still be expensive as hell though.

 

[Black Dog]

Check this out, a home made laser CNC machine. Home Built CNC Laser Build Log Shouldn't cost that much more to add the powder trays and the roller, then retune the laser. Software might still be expensive as hell though.

Modern technology is amazing. All you need is a little ambition and almost anything is possible. As for the software... It will come down in price like anything else. 3D printing in manufacturing etc is going to be a big deal for manufacturing in the next 10 to 20 years as it becomes cheaper and more cost efficient.

 

[HonestJoe]

If this works out and is deemed viable. Do you think it will lead to a major drop in gun prices and possibly even more regulation do to a possibly much cheaper ways to produce guns?

I actually doubt 3D printing will have any major impact on existing mass produced items such as guns. This seems to be a long way from meeting any of the key requirements of being cheaper, quicker or better quality than conventional manufacture, already using some cutting edge technology, can achieve. There may be scope in the future of 3D printing to make some intricate parts for machinery like guns but I don't see that dropping the overall price significantly (especially after profit has been extracted from any production cost benefits).

I see 3D printing primarily focused in the luxury/entertainment fields where people will pay for novelty and specialist fields such as medical devices, which are made in relatively small numbers but to exacting standards.

 

[imagep]

Modern technology is amazing. All you need is a little ambition and almost anything is possible. As for the software... It will come down in price like anything else. 3D printing in manufacturing etc is going to be a big deal for manufacturing in the next 10 to 20 years as it becomes cheaper and more cost efficient.

I'm not so confident in that. Large volume manufacturing is already amazingly efficient. 3D printers, at least what is being developed today, are targeted at making short run "job shop" type items and protypes. I really don't see how its possible to make a 3D printer that is going to be more efficient that traditional high volume manufacturing.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

The Liberator, for all the hoopla, was not really a gun. This 3D-printed firearm, on the other hand, is a gun. It is a copy of a 1911 made using public-domain plans and a laser sintering system that solidifies metal powder. It fires just like a real semi-automatic pistol - Engineers Build The World

If this works out and is deemed viable. Do you think it will lead to a major drop in gun prices and possibly even more regulation do to a possibly much cheaper ways to produce guns?

I imagine the cost of the printer will keep them rare (sounds like a newer commercial system). One the printers become widespread, and assuming the technology can be made more widely available through economy of scale, then it might affect the prices of a number of items.

PS how is the metal at handling the combustion forces involved?

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

And you are comparing a cheap plastic proof of concept to metal/ceramics. The original was done only to prove the process, not the material. This new one changes the material used in the process. It can now also be used to fine tune the process with the materials, allowing greater quality of production.

As to the cost. Sure, it's expensive now. But then, any new technology is expensive. How much were the first cd players? DVD players? CD drives? etc...

not all tech is open to such reduction in cost. Sometimes **** is just expensive to produce

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

I actually doubt 3D printing will have any major impact on existing mass produced items such as guns. This seems to be a long way from meeting any of the key requirements of being cheaper, quicker or better quality than conventional manufacture, already using some cutting edge technology, can achieve. There may be scope in the future of 3D printing to make some intricate parts for machinery like guns but I don't see that dropping the overall price significantly (especially after profit has been extracted from any production cost benefits).

I see 3D printing primarily focused in the luxury/entertainment fields where people will pay for novelty and specialist fields such as medical devices, which are made in relatively small numbers but to exacting standards.

3d printing actually started as a means to produce prosthetics, like replacement hip joints

 

[DVSentinel]

not all tech is open to such reduction in cost. Sometimes **** is just expensive to produce

Maybe, but even at a million dollars, such devices could replace a lot of other equipment and high dollar union labor.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

Maybe, but even at a million dollars, such devices could replace a lot of other equipment and high dollar union labor.

then why isn't that already happening at the 500k price point? If it was such an easy means for reducing costs I imagine large scale businesses would be already adopting them

 

[DVSentinel]

then why isn't that already happening at the 500k price point? If it was such an easy means for reducing costs I imagine large scale businesses would be already adopting them

There are probably still a few technical issues to work out. Once those are settled, I expect that they will be replacing antiquated techniques and workers. The 1911 in the OP can be used for quality testing for arms manufacturing. Before companies switch over, they are going to want test proving quality and also they must consider speed of production. Although, speed may not be as much of a factor, as you can always add more machines for higher production once the concept is proven and costs come down.

Is it at the stage to enter use in mass production, probably not. It definitely is now usable for custom productions, modeling and prototyping. When will it enter into mass production lines? Hard to say. The technology needs to mature a bit more and even then it is a decision for management of production companies. If you already own other equipment, when does it become cost effective to switch? Do they have the capital or credit necessary to even switch?

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

There are probably still a few technical issues to work out. Once those are settled, I expect that they will be replacing antiquated techniques and workers.

the production line system is just extremely efficient for mass production. Certanly this may replace it, but I'm just not seeing the evidence for that

The 1911 in the OP can be used for quality testing for arms manufacturing

The people who I know that use 3d printers already in a professional capacity make custom items or prototypes. In this, their applications makes nothing but sense. mass production is a whole different ball game.

 

[Black Dog]

[video]http://www.mrcolionnoir.com/right-to-carry/worlds-first-3d-printed-metal-gun-the-video/[/video]

 

[DVSentinel]

[video]http://www.mrcolionnoir.com/right-to-carry/worlds-first-3d-printed-metal-gun-the-video/[/video]

Cool. Maybe it would work for Chromoly also. Maybe do a Chromoly DE .44 or even .50 AE.

 

[Black Dog]

Cool. Maybe it would work for Chromoly also. Maybe do a Chromoly DE .44 or even .50 AE.

Who knows? I would like to see what they can do with synthetic rifles and pistols like they did with the AR lower.