3D Printed AR15 Much Improved, More Reliable

Gun Watch ^ | 12 January, 2013 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Major improvements have been made in 3D printed AR15 rifles. The part of the rifle that is defined as a gun by federal law is the only part printed. The rest of the parts are commonly available on the free market.

People have made guns at home since guns were invented in the 1500’s or before. However, the ability to print out your own AR15 lower receiver at home, without having to use steel files, a grinder, or other home workshop tools, has caught the attention of the public in this digital age.

Defense Distributed is the organization that aims to make the promise of the Second Amendment a practical reality for everyman at the touch of a button. No longer will criminals in and out of government be able to be reasonably certain that their victims are unarmed.

The first AR15 lower printed by Defense Distributed was matched to a barrel chambered for the 5.7x28 cartridge, a pistol/rifle round less powerful than the more common .223. It failed after six rounds.

All of their design work and testing is now being done for and with the .223 cartridge. Several different printers and technologies have been tested. Stress analysis with sophisticated engineering design tools has been used to reduce the number of prototypes required. The lowers will now work reliably for 40-60 shots before failing. The highest round count so far has been over 80.

The failures occur at the rear take down pins, through to the hand grip.

Defense Distributed believes that their latest improvement will be reliable for 100 rounds. They expect to release the build files to the public in the next few weeks.

They will dedicate it to Joe Biden and company.

Dean Weingarten

[TexasRepublic]

“Give them a bit of time and perhaps the caseless ammo propellant can be 3D printed.”

Don’t hold your breath, caseless ammo has been a dream for many years. I am sure that fortunes have been spent in military research around the world for the obvious reasons should they succeed. At one time there was a serious effort by Germany to develop the technology. Something must be wrong with it besides expense or else our military would already have it at the very least in some units. It could be the ammo is too fragile to carry in combat or perhaps there are problems with gas leakage. That’s nothing new either — ever see a paper-Sharps or a Hall breach-loading rifle?

[BwanaNdege]

“I’m sure it will cost a fortune though.”

http://www.shapeways.com/

“Shapeways is a 3D Printing marketplace and community.”

[houeto]

Satirical, of course, and very well written.

Satire or not, the last time I looked bids were pushing $300!!!

[houeto]

Thanks for the update mark. I was wondering how long it would take for the improvement. Turns out, not long at all!

[Windflier]

I am very enthusiastic about the 3D process, to the point I may sell one of my gun safe queens to buy an entry level printer, as a machinist and fabrictor who has worked in a fiberglass putrusion and plastic extrusion plant as a die maker I can see ways to change the application.

Damn, Unk. Why can't you talk like that all the time? That sounds a lot more like the old Unk to me. I don't know who that new guy is who's posting under your nick.

[Eye of Unk]

You got me there, maybe their is a fake unk.
I am mobile out in the field, i saw your comments thst were somewhat hested. When i get back to base and on the puter l will see what the issue is.

[jmcenanly]

How long before some lefty demands (and perhaps in some lefty jurisdictions, enacts) “3d Printer Control”?

I don’t object to such “control” in the narrow sense of saying “don’t make [things that are already illegal] with your 3D printer.” I’m talking, rather, about limits on having 3D printers AT ALL. It’s coming.

I'm sure the labor unions would be all for it.why deal with the teamsters, the ILA, the UAW, et al, when anything you wish can be produced at home. I am not forgetting about the 'ink'. this could either produced locally, or someone might invent a device that breaks down a printed object into its component powders.