billythekid

Can a 10yr old kid upload a readily available file into your expensive 3D printer and get a ready made gun out of it?

I'll save you the trouble of answering a tell you the answer is NO.

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

here you go this is what all the fuss is about. the white part is plastiv

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

No one thinking of people on planes with this thing?

Other then the dolls what did they use one for on big bang theory

LSherratt

iTrader: (1)

The firing punching pin thing is metal though

ScoobyWon't

There is a law in the US which states all firearms must set-off metal detectors, hence why the chap who made the pistol inserted 6oz of metal in to it.

I just don't imagine everyone will do so too

Coc-ker

iTrader: (1)

The ammunition would be metallic though and most likely set off electronic sniffers.

Tim.

mgcvk

Another gun obsessed American tw@t. The fact the guns may be used to kill people isn't a reason not to do it??

Matteeboy

A couple of firms do them; this was gas blowback and £80ish second hand. It was totally realistic!

Dr Hu

Looks like its been pulled - they've been visited by the G-men....

Defense Distributed, the company that made the prototype, stated on Twitter that its project had "gone dark" at the instigation of the government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...ate-department

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

The issue with that weapon is a rather complex one concerning US gun law. From a purely practical standpoint, the plastic bit just holds the trigger mechanism in place, and is not under stress when the weapon fires (the main weakness of plastic guns). But, my understanding is that the serial number is usually on that bit. Which means you could anonymise any such weapon by just making a new receiver for it out of plastic.


As for the weapon under discussion, it's a silly panic about a useless weapon. Glossing over the fact the US government doesn't understand how the internet works, and thus how successful taking the site down will be, it's not actually hard to make your own weapon, and certainly doesn't need US$10k of printer and plastic to do it.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

The REALLY depressing fact is that 100,000 downloads make this the top 3D "pattern" on the interweb.

Sad.

dunx

Leslie

Sort of thing you might well expect from that country.

I imagine a whole lot of people will want to produce such a gun to make themselves feel manly!

Les

chopperman

Yank is a little to general there mate. That's define it a little better
A TEXAN has invented a plastic gun that can be made with a 3D printer. Texas answer to the gun problem is more guns. They think if everyone is "packing heat" everyone will be equal and the problems solved. Not all Americans share this view.

Peedee

iTrader: (4)

If you want to use / fire guns, just join the forces, simple as that. Join the infantry and you can fire everything from 9mm sig sauer's to Barrett 50 Cal's / mortars......legally.

Too many blokes with small dicks that think cutting around with a gun makes them the big-man

An0n0m0us

I'm still trying to get my head around the 3d printer technology, it seems utterly bonkers you can 'print' anything let alone a gun.

chopperman

To me it looks like a milling machine but instead of a mill bit it has a glue gun.

hodgy0_2

Not really, the basic technology has been around for decades, computer program's have been able to send 3D vector files (files that contain x,y and z coordinates) to output devices Routers etc For years

In the above scenario you start with a block of material and subtract "stuff"

I suspect what What has changed is material (resin) technology coupled with the printer head technology used to deliver it

Now you start with nothing and simply add stuff

Boro

iTrader: (1)

I watched a few in action at the GadgetShow last month. They were around £2k but I wasn't that impressed with the finish of the material. Really rough on the surfaces. I'm sure the pro ones are much better and the prices will come down and every home will have one in 10 years.

Turbohot

I read this on 4-D printing yesterday, and I was stunned with the prospects of what can be done with that........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21614176

Mind boggling stuff.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Sometimes I think as soon as something 3D starts to gain traction, there's always someone who wants to improve it to 4D but usually it's rubbish and just for the headline rather than a useful application.

chopperman

What's 4D ?

Boro

iTrader: (1)

Exactly!

hodgy0_2

It's like 3D, but one better

(I think)

ScoobyWon't

Theoretically, a 3D printer could be used to replicate it's own parts, meaning that the printers themselves can be reproduced extremely cheaply.

If everyone can print a printer, everyone can start stockpiling weapons, so the US believe. I'm not sure how you would replicate circuits with it, but I doubt the US worried about that.

warrenm2

Well argued piece on how this is all hype and its a lump of cr@p...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/05...lastic_3d_gun/

chopperman

Funny that cos one was test fired in Texas last week.

hodgy0_2

as warren has pointed out

over hyped bullsh!t by publicity seeking nutters and helped with a compliant and lazy media

and as I stated before, there is nothing "amazing" about the technology at all

just squirting a white resiny substance out of a hole

my c)ck has been doing that for years -- and even creates humans with it - now that is crazy ****

Leslie

It must be mounted backwards then!

Les