They have advanced the production technique enough to make full auto guns that shoot pistol calibers.
Also 3D printing in metal is a thing, I do believe it requires finish machining for the majority of consumer grade units.
Comment on NY bill would require a criminal history background check for the purchase of a 3D printer
Pxtl@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Has anybody actually successfully produced a proper firearm with a 3D printer? Like, one that doesn’t melt after firing a shot? Who are these people who’ve created this nonsensical panic?
Death_Equity@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Khotetsu@lib.lgbt 1 year ago
Your average consumer grade 3d printer cannot print in metal. I looked into this at one point for jewelry, and you need commercial printers that cost thousands upon thousands of dollars for most metals.
Having said that, yes, 3d printing guns has reached a point where people can make 100% 3d printed full auto guns in pistol calibers. In fact, that’s exactly what the Burmese resistance groups are using to fight back against the genocidal regime in their country. Because nobody in the international community cares enough to support them with military arms, but they can get 3d printers to print enough guns that they can kill and loot soldiers for better guns.
superguy@lemm.ee 1 year ago
You don’t need to print in metal to make a functional 3D printed gun.
Khotetsu@lib.lgbt 1 year ago
I meant to put it in my second paragraph, but I meant 100% printed PLA full auto guns chambered in pistol calibers (with maybe some basic metal parts inside). I’m not really into the gun part of 3d printing, but I keep an eye on it because there’s been a lot of innovation there that has changed manufacturing ideas in the rest of the 3d printing world. They figured out how to rifle a metal barrel with nothing more than a bucket of saltwater and an electric current, no milling machines or anything required! We definitely aren’t in the world of one-shot pistols using rubber bands in the trigger anymore.
There used to be a fantastic documentary on the history of 3d printed guns I would recommend people watch by a channel on YouTube called 3d Print General, which mostly does 3d printer reviews and stuff, but the video recently got deleted by YouTube, despite some of the VICE videos showing more about how to actually make 3d printed guns than his documentary.
But the thing I always want to make clear to people is that the vast majority of people printing guns are the equivalent of the guys making kit cars in their garage - hobbyists, not criminals. Because you can buy a $200+ printer and spend the time learning how to use it, or you can go to a state with no gun laws and buy a cheap pistol for $150 from a gun shop.
superguy@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Yes… they’ve been doing it for years.
Waluigis_Talking_Buttplug@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Cody Wilson.
tacosplease@lemmy.world 1 year ago
That was ages ago. I lurked in some related subreddits before the api fiasco. They were constantly improving designs and processes.
Still a ridiculous law though. Should we do background checks for lathes too?
Waluigis_Talking_Buttplug@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It’s a legitimate waste of time. We have government officials being paid to draft this and vote on this.
setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 1 year ago
On firearms in the US, the receiver (usually) is legally “the gun”. Everything is parts. In a gun store you sign a 4473 federal form for a gun. You can walk out paying cash for parts with no papers.
There have been a lot of 3D printed receivers, aka “the gun” made and then all the relevant parts added.
This is a modernization of the older practice of building guns at home. Everything from AR-15s (easy) to AKs (hard) have been built at home from non-gun materials for receivers and then fitted with parts.
Not that I agree with the panic. It’s silly. As above mentioned, 3D printing is an evolution of the practice not a revolutionary new way to access guns.