Defense Distributed

[Yves]

It's fair to say that when it comes to 3D printing, we're in a small revolution on the subject. People have made pieces of art and products using this technology. It's pretty amazing what you can do with it.

And, someone thought, why not make guns? This is where Defense Distributed comes in. Basically, they're guys who are passionate about the 2nd Amendment (the strength of those passions is not something I'd like to see discussed in this thread) and have taken this new technology and decided to start making weapons. It's fair to say that as this technology evolves and develops, you will be able to buy a 3D printer in Best Buy, download some software and designs and presto! You will become an owner of a fire-arm.

You side-step all sorts of regulation that state and federal agencies have in place. And not even European or Asian countries will be immune from this. Someone, someway will get this tech and be able to make a fire-arm.

Thoughts? Concerns? Opinions?

My personal take is that this is wonderful news. This won't be without challenges. But this does represent the democratization of manufacturing, similar to the democratization of information that we've seen with the rise of the internet.

[Winter]

You can't print steel.

[Yves]

You can't print steel.

Not yet. And it doesn't have to be steel.

[Psalm25]

Don't need a computer to make a gun... they are simple to make and one can always improve the original design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_KfHLlSnQc

[Winter]

The barrel will have to be steel.

[Seniorman]

Don't need a computer to make a gun... they are simple to make and one can always improve the original design.

Yep.

I could post here how convicts in prison make workable guns, powder and shot... but I won't. I think it's against the law, isn't it?? But they do it anyway. (Maybe if we just had Universal Obamagunregistration & Obamalicensing the convicts would not do it. )

S.M.

[canid]

You can't print steel.

SLS and DMLS are getting there. Consider how rapidly 3d printing and related rapid prototyping technologies have progressed in the commercial and even hobby markets and it doesn't take a huge leap of faith to think were we might be in ten years.

With that said, DefDist has developed and tested magazines and lower receivers, which are nearly the only controlled parts for this weapons platform.

Admittedly, their receivers aren't quite there yet in terms of materials, but the technology to do better already exists and will soon be affordable. Even their receivers are better than nothing.

[Yves]

Yep.

I could post here how convicts in prison make workable guns, powder and shot... but I won't. I think it's against the law, isn't it?? But they do it anyway. (Maybe if we just had Universal Obamagunregistration & Obamalicensing the convicts would not do it. )

S.M.

Not really. Unless you're saying that you want to do this and hurt someone, then yes. However, if you're just demonstrating the concept, then that's covered under the 1st Amendment.

[natertot]

You can't print steel.

Have you ever seen a CNC Machine? Design is on a computer and the CNC is the printer. A couple of clicks away to the parts. Of course there is that assembly thing.......

[Psalm25]

The way that Crash and the other knife makers on this site pump out better looking knives that I have seen in any store, it would not be any harder to make the complete action of a simple rifle design if someone knows how to work steel. I guess it is a matter of how many guns one would want to make... a CNC machine could make them much faster if it is quantity one is after... but for the price of one of those machines it would make more sense to do it yourself if your just looking for a personal gun.

[kyratshooter]

I have seen several poly frames already done on a "printer", they work fine.

I have also seen a poly AR frame run off on a "printer" and the owner said it did well and was holding up.

Being able to "print steel" is a rapidly advancing experimental technology. Sort of like the "lost wax process" Ruger uses now, without the wax.

As for other more basic home manufactured guns????

I made my first one when I was 12. A very usable .22. I have been experimenting with various materials, styles and designs ever since. Everything from the "Philipine gurillia gun" to the "Minutemen carbine" All totally legal, of course... I would not dream of doing full auto or supressed, or both.

The blueprints are out there and so are the U-tube vidieos. No need to risk the ire of the less adventurious here.

Single shots can be a thirty minute deal. The most difficult part of making a repeater is the magazine.

[Seniorman]

SENIORMAN - "... I could post here how convicts in prison make workable guns, powder and shot... but I won't. I could post here how convicts in prison make workable guns, powder and shot... but I won't. I think it's against the law, isn't it?? But they do it anyway. But they do it anyway. "

Not really. Unless you're saying that you want to do this and hurt someone, then yes. However, if you're just demonstrating the concept, then that's covered under the 1st Amendment.

My mistake. Poor grammatical phrasing.

I did not mean that to post the method was illegal as I know it is not. I should have said, "I could post here how convicts in prison make workable guns, powder and shot... but I won't. I think it's against the law for a convict to make a gun in prison, isn't it?? But they do it anyway."

One of those tongue-in-cheek statements. Thanks for the correction.

S.M.

[canid]

There's nothing fast about milling this particular reciever, even with CNC. It's been done on small home shop machines though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAdnZ6xsWtU

It's not like 3d printing somehow puts abilities into public hands that did not otherwise exist before.

[Winter]

I've seen some pretty amazing cnc stuff. Problem is that even if you could print a barrel, how do you heat treat it?

[canid]

The type of people drawn to non-commercial 3d printing are probably exactly the sort who would get a rise out of building a digitally controlled heat treating kiln.

Hardware hackers are generally the people who invent the technologies eventually adopted by industry anyway.

[Yves]

You can't print steel.

The barrel will have to be steel.

Have you ever seen a CNC Machine? Design is on a computer and the CNC is the printer. A couple of clicks away to the parts. Of course there is that assembly thing.......

The way that Crash and the other knife makers on this site pump out better looking knives that I have seen in any store, it would not be any harder to make the complete action of a simple rifle design if someone knows how to work steel. I guess it is a matter of how many guns one would want to make... a CNC machine could make them much faster if it is quantity one is after... but for the price of one of those machines it would make more sense to do it yourself if your just looking for a personal gun.

http://production3dprinters.com/slm/direct-metal-slm

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...el-not-plastic

Basically, 2 - 3 years and we'll be there, at most.

[Yves]

My mistake. Poor grammatical phrasing.

I did not mean that to post the method was illegal as I know it is not. I should have said, "I could post here how convicts in prison make workable guns, powder and shot... but I won't. I think it's against the law for a convict to make a gun in prison, isn't it?? But they do it anyway."

One of those tongue-in-cheek statements. Thanks for the correction.

S.M.

Ah, ok, I hear ya loud and clear .

But, if a convict has an internet connection, that person will still be able to google new ideas on how to harm others behind bars.

[canid]

Let's not forget that many of those innovative minds who excel at finding new ways to harm people are already in prison. No Google necessary on that sad front.

[Winter]

http://production3dprinters.com/slm/direct-metal-slm

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...el-not-plastic

Basically, 2 - 3 years and we'll be there, at most.

That's pretty amazing.


ETA- That tech just goes to prove once again that attempting to disarm people will not work. Those who intend to do harm will always find a way. The only solution to armed bad guys is equally armed good guys.

[crashdive123]

Amen brother.