3D Printed Guns

[dualforces]

Published on Mar 25, 2013

Cody R Wilson has figured out how to print a semi-automatic rifle from the comfort of his own home. Now he's putting all the information online so that others will join him.
--
This is a story about the rapid evolution of a technology that has forced the American legal system to play catch up. Cody Wilson, a 25 year old University of Texas Law student, is an advocate for the open source production of firearms using 3D printing technology. This makes him a highly controversial figure on both sides of the gun control issue. MOTHERBOARD sat down with Cody in Austin, Texas to talk about the constitution, the legal system, and to watch him make and test-fire a 3D-printed gun.

http://youtu.be/DconsfGsXyA

[Lan]

I looked at buying a DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) 3D printer to start an AR lower business until I saw the price. $600k minimum :eek:

Years ago, I took a couple 3D modeling classes at the local community college. They had just purchased a FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printer that cost 20k.

The price of the metal printing machines will come down, and soon we'll all be making our own guns :lifter

[alelks]

There is actually another guy that is using a 3D printer and printing them with metal infused polymers.

There is also one company that has applied to manufacture guns using this process.

[Lan]

This guy is printing lowers out of ABS!

You can download the file right here

Lower (http://defcad.org/defdist-ar-15-lower-receiver/)

Or a 30 round mag here

30 Round Mag (http://defcad.org/ar-15-magazine-30-round-mag/)

:munchin

[KamAnt]

While I'm not sure of the capabilty to print with such resins, I would see nylon or glass filled PET as a more durable option. I just don't see ABS doing it.

ETA: A quick search leads me to believe this can only be done with low temp resins such as ABS, poly pro, etc. which dq's nylon and glass filled resins.