3D printing is no doubt awesome, but this video is a scary reminder of how dangerous cool toys could be in the hands of wrong people. If you can print a magazine, I assume eventually you'd be able to print a weapon that can withstand at least one-time use. That means no one needs to buy guns anymore, they just need to print them. Not the most comforting thought.
Printing a magazine is entirely different from printing a barrel. Either way you'd be better off with a CNC mill from China and already available plans.
Personally, I would not be willing to fire a gun made of plastic. High pressure + weak material -> fragmentation.
The obsession with 3d printing vs more practical methods has everything to do with privileged white nerds and their obsession with the "information economy" over actual knowledge and skills (and physical effort, which they reject as blue-collar). Lathes and machining require refinement of individual workmanship, while refining 3d printing resides entirely in the realm of the printer manufacturers with the end-users reduced to the role of consumers.
I feel this is pretty misleading. Yes, you probably are within 10 miles, however the required skills are perhaps 1 in 10,000 or worse. Not to mention that the proportion that will break the law to manufacture a firearm is going to be a very small subset of those.
On the other hand, if 3d printed weaponry were feasible, it would require a small purchase, a file download and a button click. That is a significant and notable change.
Humanity will always find a way to use the newest technologies for violence. In fact, violence is one of the biggest drivers of technology.
IMHO, limiting and fearing technology because it will be used for violence is futile. The only way (if there is any) to curtail the use of technology for weaponry is to win the war over ignorance / lack of education and poverty.
A firearm entirely made of plastic doesn't seem practical, you really need metal and we've had CNC metal-working lathes since the 60s.
Why haven't people started making their own firearms? Probably its much cheaper to just buy a gun. Although people seem to make excellent knockoffs in Afganistan.
If its all plastic you can walk through metal detectors. As for afghanistan their knockoffs they buy in Pakistan gun markets are pretty good considering they are entirely made from scrap metal. Well, used to be before the gun markets were shut down by the taliban. You'd think they want to keep it open to buy weapons guess they are more worriied with angry villagers getting weapons and runninng them out of town
A magazine is essentially a box, with a spring in the bottom. It's really not the hard part of weapons manufacturing. And, the spring can't even be 3-d printed currently.
25 comments
[ 5.2 ms ] story [ 62.1 ms ] threadPersonally, I would not be willing to fire a gun made of plastic. High pressure + weak material -> fragmentation.
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/build-yourself/17...
Heres a basic concept of a .410 shotgun in a flashlight. (something that could be made at home with drill press and a few other things.)
http://hackedgadgets.com/2007/03/09/shotgun-flashlight/
---
Honestly, a hi capacity magazine is the least of your worries...
[0] http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/12/03/heres-w...
I know people who make guns as a hobby. This is moral, legal, and fun.
On the other hand, if 3d printed weaponry were feasible, it would require a small purchase, a file download and a button click. That is a significant and notable change.
IMHO, limiting and fearing technology because it will be used for violence is futile. The only way (if there is any) to curtail the use of technology for weaponry is to win the war over ignorance / lack of education and poverty.
Why haven't people started making their own firearms? Probably its much cheaper to just buy a gun. Although people seem to make excellent knockoffs in Afganistan.
Unless you're getting into caseless ammunition, which has never been popular.
See: http://www.defensereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/High...
Another option is to get a redi-mag. Essentially it holds two magazines right next to each other and switches between them if one jams.
See: http://www.redi-mag.com
Limits on guns don't really stop anyone who is slightly determined.