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A machine that can make metal parts from a blueprint can also make all kinds of weapon. Do you think such a 3d printer would be legally available to the general
by itmag 14y ago
A machine that can make metal parts from a blueprint can also make all kinds of weapon. Do you think such a 3d printer would be legally available to the general public?
- jsmcgd 14y agoThey already are. They're not cheap though.
- itmag 14y agoThat's interesting. I would think that a machine capable of making arbitrary metal parts would very quickly be subjected to heavy government regulations?
- Wingman4l7 14y agoThe parent poster is probably referring to CNC milling machines. AFAIK, gun parts made on them are subject to the same regulation/registration as if they were purchased in a store or made in a machine shop. Also, using CNC machines takes skill -- they're not "set and forget" -- and I would imagine that the kind of people with said skill are smart enough not to tempt fate and make illegal gun parts.
- itmag 14y agoYeah, that's what I thought. My surprise was at the notion of set and forget machines for arbitrary metal parts.
- itmag 14y agoWhy the downvote? I was just pointing out something that the gov't is sure to latch on to.
- Wingman4l7 14y agoActually, there was a big kerfuffle on Thingiverse when someone published, as proof of concept, a design for a plastic rifle magazine: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11636 http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11636
- Wingman4l7 14y agoPeople have also done the lower receivers for the same rifle (an AR-15): http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11770 http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11770