Geekologie I Watch Stuff The Superficial

3-D Printed Gun Part Lasts Six Shots Before Breaking

December 4, 2012 / 3-d printing things, arguing, bang bang!, government, guns, i'd say you could all try to have an intelligent conversation in the comments about the implications of 3-d printing guns but you and i both know there is 0% chance of that happening, impressive -- but can you print a sex toy?, law, printing things, regulation, shooting things

3d-printed-gun.jpg

This is a video of an AR-15 that has a 3-D printed lower receiver (in green -- the "firearm" part of the rifle that would require a federal firearms license). The rest of the weapon consists of standard metal gun parts you could buy without a license. The piece lasts six shots before it breaks. What does all of this mean? No clue, I was just expecting some catastrophic backfire that never happened.

Due to the fact that all the dangerous stresses are contained in the bolt and barrel extension -- in the event of a lower failure, the only damage the operator faces is to the ego. The spring and buffer simply popped out the the tube and fell to the ground. The buffer detent and spring very lightly jammed the bolt halfway between open and in battery. It was easily cleared and no damage was sustained by the detent, spring, or bolt.

Now listen, before you all start going off about guns, gun control, government, and the Illuminati, consider this: I've written this entire article from the bathtub. I got this tray that spans the width of the tub so I can eat in here too, it's pretty great. I'd take a picture to prove it but all the bubbles already dissipated and you'd be able to see Mr. Squiggle. "You named your penis Mr. Squiggle?" No, the neighbor who comes over to take baths with me, YES MY PENIS.

Hit the jump for the video.

Thanks to Cameron, who's never printed a gun before but has printed out several nudie pictures and taped them inside the very top of the toilet bowl tank. Jk jk, that was me.

There are Comments

  • Guns, the solution to the world problems.

  • You only need one bullet...

  • And the Wright brothers wrecked many a plane prior to their historic first flight.

    Hell, I think they wrecked on their first flight too.

  • px4

    A federal license is only needed to manufacture the receiver. Some states require a state license to purchase firearms, but most states don't have firearms licenses.
    Also, 6 shots is pathetic. Google "cutting board ar15". A lower receiver made from two nylon kitchen cutting boards. His functional prototype was made out of plywood.
    3d printers are fun toys, but so far they're not much more than that.

  • He could have easily made a mold from his printed part. 3d printers are epic tools.

  • Actually, you can make your own receiver also, as long as you are legally allowed to own the firearm in the city you reside in, and are not selling it. All other restrictions apply though, so if you want a home made suppressed gun, you have to pay the appropriate taxes and apply to the bureaucrats in the BATFE for permission and such.

  • And this was only chambered for 5.7x28mm, which is not even close to standard 5.56. Still the more I see about 3D printers, the more I like them.

  • JJtoob

    But it'd be nice for movie props. Now print an ICBM and see how many times you can launch it before it breaks.

  • Well, as long as it's just once, you can probably call it a success

blog comments powered by Disqus