I think he’s only printing certain parts as an earlier poster stated. While the technology exists to print with metals from what I’ve read it is only capable of firing a small number (I heard 6) shots before failing.
He’s not printing or using the printed uppers, that is a regular firearm. As I understand firearm laws you can make lowers and other parts all day long legally. In the case of an AR15 the upper is the regulated part which requires a firearm manufacturers license to make.
No, you've got it backwards. It's the lower receiver that is serialized and therefore, regulated.
And they're printing just the magazines. In the video, it's white, but it could certainly be printed in black.
Print a plastic water pistol that works...This will impress me and it is doubtful it can be done at this point. Plus how strong and durable are the plastics that are printed compared to the usual injection molding
If Jay Leno can print parts (gears) for his Stanley Steamer?
When I watched both videos, especially the Beck video, I got the definite impression that a fully functioning weapon could be printed. Even if on each particular video only parts were mentioned.
I am NOT in anyway knowledgeable about this stuff however.
The stripped lower is the regulated part.
The lower is regulated. You can buy all the uppers you want without FFL.
Others have pointed out the lower is the firearm, but they didn't mention that you can, legally, make your own lower, for your own use, with no intent to sell (as long as ownership of said item is legal where you live). You can buy 80% lowers on-line, finish them yourself, and maintain the lower as your own, and it needs no serial number (but is recommended strictly for security purposes), doesn't have to go through an FFL, nor does it require a manufacturer's permit.
You're slightly wrong on a couple points. First, with split upper/lower designs it's the lower that's serialized and controlled, not the upper, although the upper is more mechanically demanding and from an engineering (but not legal) perspective might be considered the more firearm-y part.
Second, no license is legally needed to make even the controlled portion of a firearm, as long as you're making it for your own use and it's not an NFA item (full auto, suppressor, destructive device, etc.). You can even sell or otherwise transfer them at some future date, so long as you're not selling them in a volume that would imply you're actually in the firearm manufacturing business.
“In the case of an AR15 the upper is the regulated part which requires a firearm manufacturers license to make.”
I think you can manufacture it with no license, as long as you are not intending to sell it.