Michael Thad Carter for ForbesPosted on 05/06/2013 11:36:35 PM PDT by neverdem
Michael Thad Carter for Forbes
Remember when Defense Distributed's Cody Wilson promised to unveil an entirely 3D-printed handgun made of ABS plastic with the firing pin its only metal part? Well, he's apparently done it. Forbes's Andy Greenberg was given a sneak peek of the result, and it looks and appears to be quite an achievement. If all goes well, the plans will be unveiled at Defcad.org next week.
Writes Greenberg:
Eight months ago, Cody Wilson set out to create the world’s first entirely 3D-printable handgun.
Now he has.
Early next week, Wilson, a 25-year University of Texas law student and founder of the non-profit group Defense Distributed, plans to release the 3D-printable CAD files for a gun he calls “the Liberator,” pictured in its initial form above. He’s agreed to let me document the process of the gun’s creation, so long as I don’t publish details of its mechanics or its testing until it’s been proven to work reliably and the file has been uploaded to Defense Distributed’s online collection of printable gun blueprints at Defcad.org.
All sixteen pieces of the Liberator prototype were printed in ABS plastic with a Dimension SST printer from 3D printing company Stratasys, with the exception of a single nail that’s used as a firing pin. The gun is designed to fire standard handgun rounds, using interchangeable barrels for different calibers of ammunition.
Some people have asked why you would bother to print a gun like this when you can purchase a stronger, more durable gun made from traditional materials. The answer should be obvious: This is an exercise in political theater, to demonstrate that technology is empowering individuals by stripping governments of the ability to enforce restrictions. Yes, you can make guns in a host of ways, including the similarly advanced technology of CNC machines. But 3D printing is a hot and increasingly accessible technology that has been specifically called out by the president. To use it to so easily defeat restrictions (or outright prohibitions) is to demonstrate the limits of the coercive power of the state.
Update: Rep. Steve Israel proposes an impotent ban on plastic homemade guns and ammunition magazines.
That may be just rhetoric, but it ignores a fundamental supply problem. It's why they tuned it down to three round bursts on select fire. Where are you getting an unlimited re-supply for your basic load?
I would be interested in hearing when someone successfully downloads these blueprints.
They make several of the needed moving parts, including what appear to be springs, out of plastic also. It appears from the pictures on the website one part is metal.
Excellent links for this new technology and good tips and pointers.
I don’t want something that only lasts for ten rounds and then maybe blows up in your hand.
Well, you might give this one a try:
Combustion-Light-Gas-Guns, a technology competing with the Rail-Gun, were developed for the U.S. Navy’s consideration. First prototype was 15mm and stepped thru 45mm. to 155mm. pieces achieving 2.5km. and 4km. velocities. Consistent ranging at 100 to 200 miles were problematic using gaseous fuel mixes in artillery. Definitely not a spud-gun!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_gas_gun
http://www.utroninc.com/tech.html
I’d much rather have something that has a proven extended life cycle than be one of the first on my block to try the new and unimproved product.
3d printers mean:
production is automated
production is local
production is NONUNION
production does not need OSHA
production does not require massive real estate holdings
production does not require union drivers
production does not require “consulting fees” to individuals.
production does not require armies of former congressmen lobbyists
production does not require teams of lawyers
production does not require judges/administrative judges
production can not be taxed. (GASP!)
try searching for coil gun videos on the internet. That is the next area of development.
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