Texas company makes "metal" gun with 3-D printer

From radical left wing news.

 

I highly doubt it. Not saying you are wrong, but the chance of this happening is low. IMHO.

The difference between the entertainment industry and this, is massive. The technology and storage ability of media, became so cheap and so easily accessible, that everyone grasped that even the most absolute technology illiterate people, could copy millions of songs, and thousands of movies, with barely an understanding of what they were doing.

That will never be the case with a gun. Although the cost of technology has drastically declined, a 3D printer is still thousands of dollars for some of the lowest quality plastic printers. A metal printer, is upwards of $10,000 or more. That means the price would have to decline by 99% before it becomes a reasonable alternative to a company built gun, by price standards alone.

Additionally the sophistication of a 3D printed gun is pretty low. No one is going to buy a $10,000 printer, to get a gun that is a relative technology level of a musket compared to a the guns today.

Further, design and esthetics matter to people. Guns made by 3D printers are fairly basic, and plain looking. Most buyers like to have something pleasing to look at, and that takes more talent than hitting print on a computer file.

Finally, no matter how cheap, or how simple, a 3D printer becomes in the future, it will never be as easy and simple as downloading music off the internet, and playing it on your Ipod.

The vast majority are not going to do bother with it. How many people go out to eat, just because they don't want to bother cooking? How much more, to buy a gun?

 

You underestimate technology. You can by personal 3D printer and create things based on data downloaded from the internet already.

 

On top of the incredibly simplified attempts to claim a 3D printer can "easily" print a working gun and the pathetic attempt of a gun-nut group to publicize how to make illegal firearms as any remote argument against gun control...

A firearm printed from a 3D printer will be INCREDIBLY easy to track down due to the materials and manufacturing mechanisms involved. A small flake from the gun after it has been fired will directly track down who bought the printer, who printed the gun or who bought the printing thread.

 

Complete BS.

 

Would it be that difficult for you to discuss a topic without throwing around insults? 3D technology is here to stay and its only going to improve. You lose all credibility when you throw around "gun nut" to any topic involving guns ~

FROM THE ARTICLE

"Let me start out by saying one, very important thing: This is not about desktop 3-D printers," Alyssa Parkinson, a spokeswoman for the company, wrote in the blog post.

The metal gun wasn't a move toward making firearms with a 3-D printer cheaper or more accessible, she wrote.

Basic 3-D printers, such as the MakerBot Replicator 2, can be bought for around $2,000. But Solid Concepts used a specialized, high-end printer whose cost would be out of reach of most people.

"The industrial printer we used costs more than my college tuition (and I went to a private university)," Parkinson said. "And the engineers who run our machines are top of the line; they are experts who know what they're doing and understand 3-D printing better than anyone in this business."

Solid Concepts wanted to show that 3-D printing is more than just hobbyists churning out plastic doodads -- it's a viable option for serious commercial use."

Care to discuss it?

 

Long as you don't sell it, it's legal.

 

No need...those are simple enough to make. Hundreds of thousands of people do so already!

 

*Shugs* all this really is at this point is proof of concept

 

Is it?

It is a gun shaped object. If one wanted to make an actual gun, one capable of functioning, I would say a 4 axis CNC and the proper materials would be more effective.

Whilst stereolithography using new materials is impressive in it's capabilities, I would not go so far as to say it is an actual gun. Perhaps more closely related to the old zip guns.

 

that's where proof of concept comes in.....it may well be cheaper machining it the conventional way...but that might not always be the case....

 

Wonderful. More ways for the right to make guns more available to criminals.

 

[video=youtube;u7ZYKMBDm4M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u7ZYKMBDm4M[/video]

That's a semi-automatic hand gun... not a zip gun.

 

It successfully propelled a bullet down range 50 times. It is a gun. No one is arguing that mass production of firearms by 3D printers is coming soon, and no one is arguing that this is a better way to make a firearm than with a CNC machine.

you have a nit-pick problem.

And please send that guy the $10.

 

Stupid statement.

 

Any manufacturing of any firearm must include a serial #. And you must be a licensed individual in order to manufacture.

 

With certain exceptions a firearm may be made by a non-licensee provided it is not for sale and the maker is not prohibited from possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semi-automatic rifle or non-sporting shotgun from imported parts. In addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and approval by ATF. An application to make a machine gun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing that the firearm is being made for a Federal or State agency.

[18 U.S.C. 922(o) and (r), 26 U.S.C. 5822, 27 CFR 478.39, 479.62 and 479.105]

 

This doesn't have anything it do with what my post

 

What is stupid is making it easier for criminals to get guns.

 

What is stupid is trying to make it so that only criminals can get guns.

 

Yes it does, you stated you you need a license to manufacture a gun. You are incorrect.

Here is your statement:

Any manufacturing of any firearm must include a serial #. And you must be a licensed individual in order to manufacture.

Please be careful giving out misinformation.

 

Do you have anything to say that anyone cares about?

I thought not.

 

Wonderful.More knee jerky crap from anti gun liberals

 

Look up the ATF definition of manufacture. I gave out no misinformation. Your post had nothing to do with mine.

I am agreeing with you by the way. There is a difference between "making" and "manufacturing" firearms.

 

Sorry, you meant in terms of a business and importing vs Private? You used the word "any". If that is the case then yes you are correct.
I can manufacture a firearm for personal use without a license within the confines of State and Federal law.

I would recommend if one wants to do such that they first consult a Attorney, BATFE is nothing to play with.

Please note this is my opinion and should not be construed as legal advice.