3d printed gun?

**brsims** · December 4th, 2012, 09:54 AM

I thought this would be the best place for this. What do you guys and gals think?

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/fu...part-1C7404226

**rockstrongo** · December 4th, 2012, 10:07 AM

I didn't see it in the article, but it looks like they used a MakerBot to create the lower. I would be surprised if the plastics used would hold up long term (which it appears they don't), but it is a neat Idea.

**brsims** · December 4th, 2012, 10:08 AM

Personally, I'd stick with some tried and true where it concerns my personal defense weapons. Yes, I own and carry a polymer frame. But polymer has been around for quite some time now and has proven to be very reliable as a material.

**jmulvey** · December 8th, 2012, 08:00 PM

I personally create SLA models and have parts printed for jobs at work. I use it to make functional parts for temporary applications or things you want to try out before commiting to a fabrication in Aluminum or Steel. The newer materials are better but they tend to be low strength and because of the way they are made they are not isotropic. The models also tend to" move" a bitovertime making close fits a bit of a problem. Plastic used in pistol frames is highly loaded with reinforment (glass fibers, silica) to provide strength and wear resistance and cannot be compared to the ABS, polyethylene or polycarbonate like materials used for stereo lithography. I think a motivated person with some skills could easily make a fully functional firearm using these materials coupled with metal reinforcement but not a full firearm. I think going the 80% finished receiver route is a much safer and easier route if you want to fly under the radar so to speak. The simplicity of this method far outshines SLA. The methods just beginning to be used in commercial applications using metals and ceramics definitely have promise with regard to being able to print usable parts that have full material properties.

**Enfielder** · December 8th, 2012, 08:56 PM

You can make metal parts from CAD models via Direct Metal Laser Sintering.
Expensive machine.
Not very economical for ordinary folks.
Here's a 1 minute video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNW6WqynKtE