Need a gun? Working Assault Rifle Made With a 3-D Printer

[woodyear99]

Need a gun? Download and print one :s This is definitely going to be popular once prices come down...


http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-07/working-assault-rifle-made-3-d-printer

Get ready. It's now possible to print weapons at home.

An amateur gunsmith, operating under the handle of "HaveBlue" (incidentally, "Have Blue" is the codename that was used for the prototype stealth fighter that became the Lockheed F-117), announced recently in online forums that he had successfully printed a serviceable .22 caliber pistol.

Despite predictions of disaster, the pistol worked. It successfully fired 200 rounds in testing.

HaveBlue then decided to push the limits of what was possible and print an AR-15 rifle. To do this, he downloaded plans for an AR-15 in the Solidworks file format from a site called CNCGunsmith.com. After some small modifications to the design, he fed about $30 of ABS plastic feedstock into his late-model Stratasys printer. The result was a functional AR-15 rifle. Early testing shows that it works, although it still has some minor feed and extraction problems to be worked out.

HaveBlue has also been testing the "marketplace" for 3-D printing weapons. To do this he asked Thingiverse, the 3-D design sharing site run by Makerbot Industries, whether it was permissible to post weapons designs or not. According to HaveBlue, Makerbot's senior leadership decided to not disallow, but to discourage, the posting of weapons designs. Haveblue then posted a design for an AR-15 part on Thingiverse, but in the intensive legal discussion that followed Haveblue's posting, Thingiverse decided to ban weapons designs outright. However, since Haveblue's design is still on the site, it's unclear whether Thingiverse is enforcing a ban or not.
While there are still some details to sort out, it's pretty clear that making weapons at home using 3-D printers from commonly available materials is going to become much more commonplace in the near future. In fact, as 3-D printing technology matures, materials feedstock improves, and designs for weapons proliferate, we might soon see the day when nearly everyone will be able to print the weapons of their choice in the numbers they desire, all within the privacy of their own homes.

[Arcmanov]

W-T-actual-F!?

A real-life 'replicator' 

When I could use one to make a SU-35 Flanker-BM, then I'll buy one. 



SwiftKeyed from my Samsung Galaxy S2 with Tapatalk 2

[Mez]

It was just a matter of time. You can legitimately print a multitude of things, chocolate, toys, etc.
They actually printed a much more efficient radiator (not that it matters,) but it improved efficiency by some ridiculous #

[LQDSNK]

W-T-actual-F!?

SwiftKeyed from my Samsung Galaxy S2 with Tapatalk 2

THIS!

I foresee some major problems occurring here, but who is to say criminals aren't already doing this. There will be a drastic drop in gun prices though.

For every marvel made there is just a villain around the corner waiting to wreak havoc.

[Mez]

I propose that bullets may be the scarier thing to be printed at home.
If you can print armor piercing or 50. cal shots...
that's the real problem. Guns tend to kill a lot less people without ammo.
Trust me, i've played SOF2.

[woodyear99]

Seeing how ingenious this community is with 3D printing, I assume ammo will be the next thing they will figure out.

[Sesimie]

When ah man pull out his 2013 HP .50 "Paper Tiger" .....that when you need to get concerned

[TriniXaeno]

Unbelievable!!!

A scifi aficionado's dream come true.

The technological progress of the human race never ceases to amaze me.

[woodyear99]

Heheh yeah we getting there...

[TriniXaeno]

And also very much like the omni tool in Mass Effect

"The fabrication module can rapidly assemble small three-dimensional objects from common, reusable industrial plastics, ceramics, and light alloys. This allows for field repairs and modifications to most standard items, as well as the reuse of salvaged equipment."