Posted on 04/13/2013 4:37:05 AM PDT by marktwain
Cyberculture icon Stewart Brand’s famous notion that “information wants to be free” has been an almost ubiquitous refrain ever since utopian-minded hackers began populating computer networks in the 1980s. Today, 3D printing has given the phrase a whole new meaning, allowing raw data to become real world weapons with the click of a button. Cody R. Wilson, the antagonistic founder of Defense Distributed, is taking that idea to its logical — and hugely controversial — extreme.
Having recently obtained his federal manufacturing license, Wilson hopes to release files for the world’s first fully 3D-printable firearm by the end of this month. His past progress has already thrown a major wrench into America’s resurgent gun control debate, feeding doubts about the efficacy of renewed bans on undetectable firearms. But his reasoning, he claims, isn't really about the Second Amendment at all — it's about technological progress rendering the very concept of gun control meaningless.
"It's more radical for us,” he told Motherboard in “Click Print Gun,” a recent mini-doc about the dark side of the 3D printing revolution. “There are people all over the world downloading our files and we say 'good.' We say you should have access to this. You simply should."
If this all sounds very similar to the good gospel spread by Brand and advanced by progressives and activists like the late Aaron Swartz, you’re hearing it right. But even without the context of Wilson’s operation, firearms and freedom of information share a strangely similar history, an oft-overlooked ideological confluence between hackers and gun advocates that seems to be gaining momentum.
(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...
I predict the Feds via Obama / Holder will produce legislation that the 3D printers are rendered incapable of producing anything resembling a firearm but with hackers using them good luck with that...: )
I plead ignorance. Someone help me.
How can a 3D printer print a gun without using molten steel or some other molten metal as the ink?
If you can link an article that explains the process I would be most appreciative.
Maybe. We've got federal agencies issuing regulations on things like gunsmithing, written by bureaucrats who've never turned a tap in their life.
It is all about perception. The current generation does not know much about lathes or even (maybe especially) files.
But, they do understand computers and the idea of 3D printing. So they actually can understand this concept. It scares the h@ll out of them!
"Dark side" my arse!!! Printed weapons are the BRIGHT side of the 3D printing revolution, blasting the light of freedom into the darkness of tyranny.
“That said, have we raised such a bunch of computer nerds that none of them have heard of a mill or lathe and think mechanical devices could only be made in factories up to this point?”
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Interesting point, lathes and milling machines have been reduced in size and cost recently. I wonder what is the least expensive, smallest machine that would be satisfactory for gunmaking is now and how much training is needed. I know it won’t be as simple as downloading a file to a printer and you probably need more space than for a 3D printer.
could be a way around the ten rounds in a weapon.
Can you imagine the look on perps face when you present that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=GQpfQd1397E
Ping, here is one for your list.
It can't. There are some very expensive 3D printing systems that sinter metal powder and therefore produce a metal part. But they are very rare and too expensive for hobbyist use.
The 3D printers that are available at low cost make fairly weak plastic parts. The people mentioned in the article have demonstrated that they can make a functioning mostly plastic weapon - except the barrel of course.
The idea is more PR than practical, and the idea that having plans available for 3D printing firearms renders gun control laws obsolete is wishful thinking. No doubt there is some benefit from the free flow of information about the design of modern firearms. But machine tools, and foundries have been around for a long time, and they can of course be used to make whatever the 3D printer can make.
The idea of 3D printing has captured the enthusiasm of the younger, computer hobbyist set. But in reality, real firearms (and lots of other useful things) are made with machine tools. Hopefully some of the people interested in making 3D printed objects will discover the world of CNC machining, and help to rejuvenate our nation's manufacturing base. Their same approach to publishing design files could be applied to any mechanical fabrication process.
Given enough time, a good set of files is about all that is needed. A forge is very handy.
But, more in the spirit of your question, there are some small milling machines that could do all that is necessary for making revolvers for about $600.
Not cost effective to make your own at present. The easiest repeater to make is probably the open bolt submachine gun.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dentist will be able to make teeth for patients while they wait; they are working on making human organs for transplants; there a lot of possibilities with 3D technology.
But very cost effective when the regular means of production have been shut down by fiat Executive Odor.
In Soviet Union, machine tools you...
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