The $1,200 Machine That Lets Anyone Make a Metal Gun at Home

W I R E D ^ | 10.01.14 6:30 am | Andy Greenberg

[Utilizer]

WIRED.COM can not be linked to or excerpted according to 'Da Rulz', but I wanted to pass on that the site has an article up about how the creator of the 'plastic gun' has now come up with a computer-controlled milling machine that can create an AR-15 lower receiver. More details at site...

Ignore the link above, it only leads to the FR index page. The link to read the article is here:

http://www.wired.com/2014/10/cody-wilson-ghost-gunner/

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I can see any number of pistol & rifle clubs buying one and renting time on it for members at $50/hr. Or possibly having everyone chip in $3 for the purchase. Then everyone could have their own AR-15 for fairly short money.

[bajabaja]

OK Hardslab, that’s interesting — nickel plating plastic. I have an excellent 3d printer. Never thought I could plate metal on plastic. (I use PLA, polylactic acid, cornstarch base, very common in 3d printer usage and ABS, the black plastic used in sewer pipes.)

Any tips as to special search terms or reference publications for metal plating plastics?

Thanks.

[concentric circles]

M4 Carbine. 507 DOLLAR TOTAL

[Utilizer]

Nickle plating on plastic is not new. It has been done for at least a couple of decades now. Layering it up to more than a few hundred microns however would be quite time-consuming to cite just one difficulty, and the major reason that most companies prefer to use the metal-sintering technique instead.

Also, you do not want to use either method to create firearms barrels. The greater than 10,000 psi (MUCH greater, in some cases) generated when firing a projectile would be beyond the structural limitations inherent to each method and as such a major accident waiting to happen.

Using either one to create simpler and less strain-receiving items such as clips, frames, and lower receivers would be much more feasible, I believe.

Better to concentrate on producing those and purchasing the necessary firearms barrels from some of the professional companies instead, as the fedgov has not yet gotten around to outlawing replacement parts for firearms thus far.

Don’t wish to give them any ideas, either.

[Utilizer]

I watched the vid, and thanks for the link by the way, but it did not address a couple of key issues I believe, mainly:

1) The lower receiver was manufactured by a company called PlumCrazy Polymer, which has been out of business for a few years. No replacement supplier was mentioned.

2) Did you have to pass the same requirements for obtaining such a receiver as you would have had to have for purchasing the firearm itself, as that would make it pretty much outside the position of this thread.

Making your own lower receiver or pistol frame is pretty much what this thread was about, so the need to require all the regular “gun permits” does not make the option presented in the vid all that valuable really.

Just FYI.

[bajabaja]

Thanks for that utilizer. I wasn’t going to build a firearm, but instead use Ni-plating in printing up car parts (and not high stress parts).

Since it’s been done with plastics for decades, as you inform, I can’t mess it up too badly.

[Hardslab]

I’m sure there are more then a few methods but to start with you need to get a conductive layer painted (I think there are special paints that work for this) on the plastic then electroplate with a thin layer of copper. Once that is done the nickle plating sticks to the copper. It does take time to accumulate thickness, but can be run indefinitely. Occasionally reversing the current would be necessary to keep the surface smooth.

[bajabaja]

Thanks Hardslab. My C3 Corvette needs some 3d printed parts, with metal coating, so it thanks you too.

[SamAdams76]

Our society is just going to have to come to terms with the fact that anybody who desires a gun is going to have one. Regardless of how many "laws" we pass or how many products we ban.

With common household goods, one can make a deadly poison to slip into somebody's drink or food. With a few hand tools, you can create a deadly weapon with the deadwood in your backyard.

The list doesn't come close to ending there. You are not going to be able to achieve "safety" through legislation. What we can do as a society is lock up the criminals and throw away the key. Get to them early before they start committing more serious crimes.