And, as I understood the article, all the device does is finish an 80% lower via dedicated CNC.
This is NOT the “holy grail” of “insert a block of steel, functioning gun emerges (some assembly required)”. You still need 100% of barrel, upper, stock, shroud, gas impingement, bolt, trigger complex, and a bunch of other stuff PLUS the 80% complete lower which this device does the remaining 20% on ... _then_ you have to competently put it all together, hoping all the tolerances & finish fit and function well. This is a specialty hobbyist’s tool, nothing more - nigh unto NOBODY using such a weapon in earnest for any reason would use this device to make it.
“nigh unto NOBODY using such a weapon in earnest for any reason would use this device to make it.”
Yes, whether you use this handy gadget, or finish an 80% lower using a drill press, or router or whatever, you have only built a gun in a legal sense. The lower receiver is that part of an AR that is serialized and therefore the part that the ATF considers to be a gun. The rest of the parts are just parts and can be bought online with no paperwork.
Apparently, the original patent for the AR ran out or something, so everyone and their brother is allowed to build AR parts to the same exact specifications. Customization is considered to be the AR’s strong point and lots of people customize their guns up to and including building one from the ground up. It takes only a few specialized tools, some manual dexterity and attention to detail but no real gunsmithing.