Comments on: Tools of modern gun-making: Plastic and the 3-D

By: novaculus

novaculus — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:50:56 +0000

In some designs, the receiver is not used to contain pressure. The chamber is part of the barrel, and the bolt locks directly to the barrel, not the receiver. In these designs, the receiver serves largely to keep the rest of the parts in alignment. It will also carry the serial number, which is the part the BATFE will consider to be the firearm.

It is perfectly legal to build your own rifle. If you can legally possess it, you can build it, and no federal forms are required. But you can’t transfer it.

There are 80% finished AR receivers on the market. These are not considered to be firearms and no paperwork is required for purchase. A skilled hand could produce a functional receiver from one using hand tools. I know of at least one gunsmith who will rent his CNC machine and assist in the setup if you want to build that way. A “parts kit” would complete the rifle.

In the right application, these plastic receivers could be more durable than one might suspect. And you could make a lot of them. If they are reliable for 500 rounds, they are practical.

By: cthulhu

cthulhu — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:22:16 +0000

I like how journalists are so naive about manufacturing. To them, it’s some black art that can’t be understood thus safety out of the hands of flyover country. Relegated to just a few wizards at Smith & Wesson whom they think they can control politically. But pressing a print button? My god! Even a journalist can do that! Sound the alarms!

MechanicalBill on January 30, 2013 at 4:59 PM

This.

It just confirms that the political class has never actually done anything useful in their entire lives.

By: Warner Todd Huston

Warner Todd Huston — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:35:33 +0000

Again, these stories are all extremely misleading. Most of a gun, and nearly ALL of the important parts, CANNOT be made by plastic 3-D printers. You can’t make the barrel, you can’t make the firing chamber, you can’t make the springs or the firing pin… and you certainly can’t make the ammunition with a 3-D printer. Further, every part that HAS been made with this process has failed after only a few rounds. 3-D printers simply cannot produce finished products that are strong enough or very useful or very safe. It’s all scary sounding nonsense.

By: TexasDan

TexasDan — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:23:12 +0000

Printing lowers is only interesting from the POV that the BATFE considers that to be the “gun”.

None of the boom happens in the lower. Yeah, it gets some hot gas and whatnot during the recoil, but not a ton.

Let me know when we can 3D print barrels.

Oh, and the cost of those printed lowers at $100 a pop is more than what they cost to make in aluminum. Not lower than retail, at least now, but if you sold that printed lower retail it would presumably be more expensive.

By: oryguncon

oryguncon — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:46:57 +0000

MechanicalBill on January 30, 2013 at 4:59 PM

You’re asking journolistas to do their own work and watch some of their compatriots own reports from places like Pakistan. Gunsmiths and metal workers using 50-100 year old tools and techniques making guns in caves, small shops etc.. Its not hard to make a “grease gun” like they did in WW2.

Check out Sherline’s CNC systems. A few grand gets you a mill and lathe and computer to run them.

By: stvnscott

stvnscott — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:45:06 +0000

I have direct experience with some models of 3D printers. As of now, they are blowing this out of proportion. They are insinuating that inexpensive printers can be used to make working lower receivers and other gun parts. That is not currently the case. The resolution of those printers is poor, and the thermoplastic they use is weak. To do it right, you need to be able to print to ABS plastic as a minimum (I still would not trust it), which means you need a printer in the $50,000 range. And you still need access to expensive, high quality parts to finish out lower receiver, and comprise the bolt, chamber, and barrel of the upper receiver.

By: Socratease

Socratease — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:29:35 +0000

This whole business with 3D printers making guns is mostly just a stunt. The kind of plastic used in those printers might well stand up to a handful of shots, but eventually the firing chamber is going to blow out. I wouldn’t trust one, myself.

True. But you could make a mold from one and use it to cast aluminum.

By: Gohawgs

Gohawgs — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:29:07 +0000

Screw that, I bought a small machine shop.

Bmore on January 30, 2013 at 4:44 PM

One gatling gun in .308 Win., please…

By: RizzyG

RizzyG — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:26:33 +0000

http://www.vice.com/the-vice-guide-to-travel/the-gun-markets-of-pakistan

3-d printers are only needed if you don’t want to use elbow grease

By: HondaV65

HondaV65 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:17:36 +0000

ProfShadow on January 30, 2013 at 5:12 PM

That’s where the CNC machines come into play. Between a 3D printer and a CNC … you can just about make the entire gun.

And further … once guns are outlawed, may as well “print” and “machine” fully automatic weapons.