Posted on 05/06/2013 3:07:28 PM PDT by RightWingNilla
I believe it is possible to make a plastic barrel that withstands the pressure. It just has to be thick enough. Due to the required thicknesses, any firearm made from plastic will likely be heavier/larger than an equivalent made from metal.
The only issue is the bullets will slowly wear down the barrel until the pressure becomes too low. With steel inserts, I have no doubt that a semi-auto firearm is possible. Some plastics can withstand high temperatures so a full-auto may even be possible.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives and Printers.
"Come out with your hands on your head, geek!"
The files need to exist on as many computers as possible so they cannot be regulated.
***Good place to bump this thread.
I put on some hip waders and saw what the DU crowd was going with this story. They want to treat the CAD files for guns like kiddie porn. When the molecular compound variety of printers come around, the Nerf World nazis here will want the same treatment for printed drug files. Both will gleefully hand the feds more power than we can imagine to criminalize this technology...for the children of course, since neither side really wants to do any real hands-on parenting. Neither side is even remotely interested in freedom.
There is no need to print a barrel — that can be bought without legal constraints. The only part of the multi-part gun system which is “the firearm” is the lower receiver. That is not exposed to the strong explosive forces that the chamber or barrel see. In fact, AK-47 lowers are often made by bending light-gage sheet steel.
You’re going to start seeing more and more stuff made with 3D printers.
GE to mass-produce critical jet engine part use 3D printing
I love it. The RKBA meets the freedom of the press!
(p) Distribution of Information Relating to Explosives, Destructive Devices, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.—So merely passing along information about can put you in prison (unless you're Bill Ayers and have a well-connected dad). Congress can just add info about making firearms to the list.(2) Prohibition.— It shall be unlawful for any person—(A) to teach or demonstrate the making or use of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction, or to distribute by any means information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, with the intent that the teaching, demonstration, or information be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal crime of violence; or(B) to teach or demonstrate to any person the making or use of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction, or to distribute to any person, by any means, information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, knowing that such person intends to use the teaching, demonstration, or information for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal crime of violence.
The “3D printed” firearm publications appear to be an effort to scream for legislation against private citizens making durable, dependable firearms with machines, steel, aluminum, etc. (currently legal).
Is that related to excrement?
Well said. I’ve said as much (though not as well) on other threads. The real importance of the 3-D printer is that is absolutely shows that the government has lost control. They cannot infringe now. It’s not “will not” and it’s not “shall not”. They “can not” infringe in any meaningful way — and that essentially ends the game that began with the 1934 NFA.
Schmucky Chucky Schumer 3-D Nanny State PING!
Theoretically. (And yes, I know there are some regimes even less respectful of civil rights than the US)
Only one problem for the anti-rights crowd: unlike printers and scanners where the government successfully prevailed on them to include intelligence to prevent use in counterfeiting, 3D printers are a popular DIY item. Not just USING them, but BUILDING them from scratch. Tough to regulate the functionality of stuff people build on their own. In fact one printer design is actually named for the fact that it can print the critical parts to spawn one just like itself.
In fact, I expect some big corporations lobbying for that. To much competition.
Thick, heavy, dense ABS plastic. 22 long rifle.
Capable of just a few shots before it malfunctions.
But it’s a start.
True, but it’s dicey strategerically to enact laws that are virtually unenforceable. On the one hand, it gives you a club with which to beat people you want to persecute, but on the other hand, it risks eroding even further whatever minute reluctance people might still have about breaking laws, not only because it’s unenforceable but if it’s viewed as an improper overreach as well.
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