Posted on 05/20/2013 8:44:44 PM PDT by marktwain
When high tech gunsmith group Defense Distributed test-fired the world’s first fully 3D-printed firearm earlier this month, some critics dismissed the demonstration as expensive and impractical, arguing it could only be done with a high-end industrial 3D printer and that the plastic weapon wouldn’t last more than a single shot. Now a couple of hobbyists have proven them wrong on both counts.
One evening late last week, a Wisconsin engineer who calls himself “Joe” test-fired a new version of that handgun printed on a $1,725 Lulzbot A0-101 consumer-grade 3D printer, far cheaper than the one used by Defense Distributed. Joe, who asked that I not reveal his full name, loaded the weapon with .380 caliber rounds and fired it nine times, using a string to pull its trigger for safety.
The weapon survived all nine shots over the course of an evening, as you can see in the YouTube video below. (The clip was filmed by Michael Guslick, a fellow Wisconsin engineer who helped Joe with his tests and who is known for printing one of the first working lower receivers for AR-15 semi-automatic rifles.)
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
/johnny
All things are relative. Improvised firearms("zip guns") have long been made by prisoners, partisans, and others who have otherwise been prohibited access to conventionally manufactured weapons about as long as there have been firearms. They've been made from soft metals, wood, plastic etc. I suppose the users have conducted a rudimentary cost-benefit analysis and found that the risk of their firearms failure was an acceptable alternative to going entirely unarmed.
And certainly, while I would not want to be holding one when it blew, both the prior design from a week or two ago and this one fire the .380 which is a (relatively) low pressure cartridge which actually has a lower recommended chamber pressure than a .22 LR, which would minimize the collateral damage in the event of a catastrophic material failure.
/johnny
Can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube.
The hoi polloi are getting uppity........
The first cars were silly when they were first invented. You could out walk or outrun them, but with innovation, they got better. It’s no different with these guns. They may have very limited usefulness where they currently stand, but with innovation, they’ll get better.
It’s only silly because I can make one that’s better from old plumbing leftovers, and it will never blow up.
Free zip guns have been around for as long as there have been guns.
It’s neat as far as 3D printing goes, and I’d love to play with that sort of stuff.
But the gun is just a novelty, and will remain so for quite a while, imo.
Not to mention that an actual reliable working modern gun is very cheap. $150 new and maybe $50 used.
The Industrial Revolution still rulz.
“I don’t intend to give up my heavy metal 1911 style carry piece”
I knew you were a man of good taste, refinement, and distinction.
/johnny
There’s a version of this type of printer that makes metal objects from powdered metal.
With me, that’s worth bonus points.
The thing is, that takes more time and effort than just hitting ‘print’ and walking away. Not to mention that you can make dozens of copies fast.
It’s at least as useful as the old FP-45. More importantly it is very disposable and has no tool marks with which to trace it, something you can’t say about the old plumbing rigs.
But it's caused some brown drawers in DC.
Not bad for a piece of technical piece of crap.
This is about power politics. Not mechanical precision.
Mao taught the liberals that power came from the barrel of a gun. Literally.
And now anyone can download the plans and have power.
The politicians are idiots, because you can download the plans for a grease-gun that fires full auto on an open bolt, built with different equipment, but they don't think that deeply.
This is 100% political. And it's dead accurate in that respect.
/johnny
if you read up on the concept of liberator guns, you’ll know why.
also being able to make your wn guns freaks out anti-2a gun confiscators. which is funny because anyone can make a gun without a 3-d printer now.
hickok45 is so awesome.
I spent more on that equipment than what it would cost to buy a desktop 3-d printer. Not to mention all the time and busted knuckles learning to use it and developing those skills.
/johnny
This is really off the subject but is there a way to turn off all the Facebook and Twitter links that load on a web page. They really slow down page loading and I really could care less about FB and Twitter.
The first printed barrel can already take 9 shots so I say we'll see one within a year if the fascists don't cripple 3D printing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.