link Technology is a lovely thing, but sometimes it scares the bejeezus out of us. This working 3D-printed gun is one such case. Gun enthusiast “HaveBlue” has documented in a blog post (via the AR15 forums) the process of what appears to be the first test firing of a firearm made with a 3D printer. Before you go about locking yourself in your closet, you should know that the only printed part of the gun was the lower receiver. But, according to the American Gun Control Act, the receiver is what counts as the firearm. HaveBlue reportedly used a Stratasys 3D printer to craft the part, assembled it as a .22 pistol and fired more than 200 rounds with it. The tester then attempted to assemble a rifle with the part and a .223 upper receiver but had “feed and extraction issues.” The problem may not in fact be with the 3D-printed part, though, as the issues remained when a standard aluminum lower was used. 3D printer gun designs have been floating around the Internet for some time now, but HaveBlue seems to be the first to take it to the next level.
99.9% of the time I'm PROUD to be an American. This 0.1% is when I'm not. But maybe something 'good' can come of this. Maybe the 3D manufacturing of something as complicated as the lower receiver will lead to the making of something to better mankind. But hey, even a toothbrush can be used as a weapon, so I guess I really shouldn't care that he 'made' a gun part.
Someone literally modeled this in 3D; hooked it up to a printer (a very special one, but a printer none the less) and printed this out. What's special about that? It actually works.
Oh okay I get it now. Isn't this how a lot of products are made though? Specifically the gun barrels? I know they are laser forged.
I guess you could say that most gun parts could be machined in a milling machine but those things cost >$10,000. 3D printers are starting to become relatively affordable at $2,000
Just to counterpoint this: I'm sure you can get these high-dollar milling machines used for pennies on the dollar at any closed-down or closing rust belt manufacturing plant.
You have to add the price of the aluminum or whatever material blocks, bits, repairs and power infrastructure to that price as well. The maintenance of a 3D printer is probably a significant fraction of that.
Anyone who'd put in the time to get this done would also probably just find a way to buy a gun if they really wanted one.
the point that makes it scary is that you can make this at home and there's no way right now for the government to regulate this so you have an unregistered weapon that you can make in your garage.
Correct me if I am wrong . .. . I thought I read that the material is like 100% recycleable. So I could print it . .. kill someone . . then remake it into a wrench Rocket River
