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You Can 3D Print A Heavy-Caliber Gun — And It’s Totally Legal
CBS San Francisco ^ | March 27, 2015

Posted on 03/27/2015 3:34:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway

With a 3D printer and enough thermoplastic, you can mass produce deadly plastic guns from the convenience of your own home without going through a rigorous background check.

Advanced 3D-printing technology now allows for people to make durable guns. And as far as current federal laws are concerned, it’s totally legal.

Medium writer Keith Mizokami documented his experience building not just any regular firearm, but a full-on assault rifle.

All it took was three hours and some light tools.

“I was an AR-15 grease monkey,” Mizokami wrote. “During the course of several projects, I’d built an entire rifle from scratch. But I’d never built the lower receiver of an AR-15. By U.S. government standards, I’d be manufacturing a firearm.”

The missing 20 percent he needed to make a functioning assault rifle is controlled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Buying what’s known as the lower receiver requires a background check. You can build your own, free from government oversight, but it’s a tedious process that requires expert knowledge and precision. Now, a group dedicated to 3D-printing firearms announced the development of a design for a Colt CM901 rifle’s lower receiver — and it’s available for download off the Internet.

The group PrintedFirearm.com used a $500 XYZ Da Vinci printer, which is cheap compared to most 3D printers. CM901 is a step above the AR-15, capable of firing the more powerful 7.62 millimeter bullet for greater range and killing power.

A video shows the thermoplastic gun undergoing a few seconds of rapid fire, but it’s not clear if the lower receiver would hold up for any longer than that. \ Regardless, printing lower receivers is a huge step for gun enthusiasts looking to simplify the gun building process in their own home, completely undetected by the government.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist
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It's legal, but they really ding you on the cost of ink.

1 posted on 03/27/2015 3:34:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
It's legal, but they really ding you on the cost of ink.

Effing Canon! (pun definitely intended)

2 posted on 03/27/2015 3:35:44 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: nickcarraway

3 posted on 03/27/2015 3:36:24 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: nickcarraway

4 posted on 03/27/2015 3:38:41 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: nickcarraway

Can you imagine how it’s going to be when 3D printing is very much more advanced and can deal with a variety of materials for all sorts of products. It’s not only guns that will be revolutionized, but products across the board.


5 posted on 03/27/2015 3:41:05 PM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: nickcarraway

Null and Void, where are you?


6 posted on 03/27/2015 3:42:22 PM PDT by Fungi (Evolution: no science, no truth, no nothing. Full of faith, faith in the "god" of chance.)
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To: nickcarraway

Love the propaganda picture which makes the semi-auto appear as full-auto.

Effing POS’s.


7 posted on 03/27/2015 3:43:12 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA (war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength, obama loves America)
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To: nickcarraway

Very cool. Just don’t try and print the barrel!


8 posted on 03/27/2015 3:43:43 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: nickcarraway

I want a .22 rim fire printer.


9 posted on 03/27/2015 3:47:44 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: nickcarraway
With a 3D printer and enough thermoplastic, you can mass produce deadly plastic guns from the convenience of your own home without going through a rigorous background check.

Advanced 3D-printing technology now allows for people to make durable guns. And as far as current federal laws are concerned, it’s totally legal.

Media ignorance and stupidity on display.... AGAIN!!!

10 posted on 03/27/2015 3:48:33 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (POPOF. President Of Pants On Fire.)
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To: nickcarraway

I wonder if you could print with wax and then make a sand cast for steel parts.


11 posted on 03/27/2015 3:49:13 PM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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To: Dalberg-Acton

http://www.solid-scape.com/products/3d-wax-printers-rapid-prototyping-services-dimension-3d-printers

http://makezine.com/projects/guide-to-3d-printing-2014/metal-casting-with-your-3d-printer/


12 posted on 03/27/2015 3:50:51 PM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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To: nickcarraway

Why shouldn’t the citizens of the so-called free-est country in the world have this right? It seems unless it can be taxed or restricted it needs outlawed.

Many pols living very well on our dole like to tell us how free we are, while they spend most of their waking time contemplating and attempting to write new laws that make us less free and more spied upon.

They do all this while they do relatively nothing to serve average Americans in a way that expands their economic opportunities and makes quality of life better.


13 posted on 03/27/2015 3:51:31 PM PDT by apoliticalone (The face of America is changing and only corrupt beholden politicians voted for it, not Americans)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
Very cool. Just don’t try and print the barrel!

Or the upper... The bang part. Plastic doesn't yet do well enought with more than one or two bangs.

14 posted on 03/27/2015 3:52:43 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 (POPOF. President Of Pants On Fire.)
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To: Star Traveler

I want a titanium 3D printer.


15 posted on 03/27/2015 3:54:05 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Dalberg-Acton
I wonder if you could print with wax and then make a sand cast for steel parts.

And the cost of the furnace to melt the steel......

16 posted on 03/27/2015 3:56:05 PM PDT by Politically Correct (A member of the rabble in good standing)
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To: Paladin2

Yeah! Wouldn’t that be great!


17 posted on 03/27/2015 3:56:48 PM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: nickcarraway

So when can we 3D print ammunition?


18 posted on 03/27/2015 4:00:00 PM PDT by SkyDancer (I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am ...)
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To: Fungi

Here, away from my ping list...


19 posted on 03/27/2015 4:01:27 PM PDT by null and void (He who kills a tyrant (i.e. an usurper) to free his country is praised and rewarded ~ Thomas Aquinas)
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To: Dalberg-Acton
I wonder if you could print with wax and then make a sand cast for steel parts.

Yes. And you could do "lost PLA" casting.

And parts cast in brass would be easier to make than steel, and 'strong enough'...

20 posted on 03/27/2015 4:08:34 PM PDT by null and void (He who kills a tyrant (i.e. an usurper) to free his country is praised and rewarded ~ Thomas Aquinas)
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