3-D Printed Gun

Something the Dog Said wrote: I work with a company that uses this technology to create custom fitted prosthetics on the spot for their customers. It has gone from a process where it would take an amputee months to be fitted for a prosthetic to where they can walk out with a custom fitted prosthetic on the same day.

:thumbsup: Very cool.

Late update: A Dem representative wants to ban 3D printing of guns.

Congressman Steve Israel

“Congress passed a law banning plastic guns for two decades, when they were just a movie fantasy. With the advent of 3-D printers these guns are suddenly a real possibility, but the law Congress passed is set to expire next year. We should act now to give law enforcement authorities the power to stop the development of these weapons before they are as easy to come by as a Google search

From the congressman's website

However, what Rep Israel doesn't say is how he hopes to accomplish his goal. Firmware locks for 3D printers? A DMCA-like takedown regime for 3D shapefiles that can be used to generate plastic firearms (or parts of plastic firearms?). A mandate on 3D printer manufacturers to somehow magically make it impossible for their products to print out gun-parts?

Every one of those measures is a nonsense and worse: unworkable combinations of authoritarianism, censorship, and wishful thinking. Importantly, none of these would prevent people from manufacturing plastic guns. And all of these measures would grossly interfere with the lawful operation of 3D printers.

BoingBoing.net

When 3D printers are outlawed only outlaws will have 3D printers. This guy is just another New York democrat trying to appeal to his base. Feel good legislation.

The polymer our printer uses isn't very strong. I wouldn't trust a gun made out of it. You are dealling with a controlled explosion.

Man has 75% of skull replaced with 3-D printed implant
Some are fascinated with 3-D printing. One man can't get it out of his head.

An unidentified man had 75% of his skull replaced with a 3-D printed implant made by Oxford Performance Materials, a Connecticut company. The surgery this week was the first time a patient received an implant made specifically for him using 3-D printing technology.

LA Times

very cool

Doggie....having strong contacts in the MIT community........perhaps you can share who you have contacted on Mass Ave that is involved in 3-D fab. Thanks in advance.
This is actually old tech.....been around 20 years and is used in aero in many areas. Seeme the general public has found interest lately. SMME, '75

Indeed guns can be fabricated using poly compounds that cannot be detected by metal detectors. Parts of guns can also be fabricated and it is impossible to trace the origins.....thus gun registration is a farce.

The gun thing is a lot of balderdash. A avid home hobbyist could create guns for centuries before printers were invented. The hardest part being the rifling.

Freddie....right on. Guns are easily replicated and the 3d printer is an assist....some parts can be traditionally made in a machine shop and some using the fab printer......piece of cake. NONE are tracable. All this stuff about magazines and BG checks are food for the workfare machine........nothing more.....and the USA sheep will also feel "safer"...... can you imagine the manhours(police, investigators, TI professionals, court staffs, jail staff, parole staff, etc., etc., etc.,......) needed to track down ONE person-person transfer with or without BG checks and prosecute.....and there are at lease 300000000 guns and growing rapidly......hummmmmm Obama will need to raise revenue from some place to cover the tab for the clerks. OH well will create more jobs until the courts gut the process.

Freddie....polemers that will and have been used for guns are readily available.........bet most intel services have the custom weapons and a lot of terrorists........BTW the NY congressman is a nut case.....obviously.

POLYMERS....pardon