3-D-printed gun available for download after firing first shots

[phantom power]

The nonprofit group that created the world’s first 3-D-printed gun on Sunday proved that the weapon could be fired.

In a YouTube video published by Defense Distributed, 3-D-printed gun creator Cody Wilson fires a single shot from “the Liberator,” which features interchangeable barrels to handle different caliber bullets.

On the first attempt, the pistol showed no damage after firing a single standard .380 round. A second attempt misfired due to a misalignment. After switching the barrel to handle a higher-charge 5.7×28 rifle cartridge, “the gun exploded, sending shards of white ABS plastic flying into the weeds and bringing the Liberator’s first field trial to an abrupt end,” according to Forbes.

...

“I recognize that this tool might be used to harm people,” Wilson told Forbes. “That’s what it is — it’s a gun. But I don’t think that’s a reason to not put it out there. I think that liberty in the end is a better interest.”

“Once the file is online, anyone will be able to download and print the gun in the privacy of their garage, legally or not, with no serial number, background check, or other regulatory hurdles,” Forbes‘ Andy Greenberg noted last week.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/06/3-d-printed-gun-available-for-download-after-firing-first-shots/

[NYC_SKP]

1. Having been a machinist and used a Stratysis printer, knowing what I do....

...this does not warrant the drama that it's likely to produce.

First, it's not an all plastic gun, it needs a metal nail for a firing pin.

Second, even if the design and files disappeared, any tinkerer worth his or her salt could design something equally (in)effective.

Meh. One round and it blows up.

[mbperrin]

2. I would encourage everyone who downloads it to definitely not stop at one round.

Have some confidence and fire away!

Oh, noes! Plastic shrapnel in my poor poor baby? Who knew?

[NYC_SKP]

3. Typically, such a remark would be alerted upon and removed.

But I think I'll just let it sit out there for others to see.

Wishing ill and injury upon others. Not cool.

[mbperrin]

4. Heavens to Betsy, no! I'm just letting people exercise that liberty found

and rated so highly in the article.

I want them to have all the liberty they can stand!

And as the designer himself noted, people can be hurt by guns....

[phantom power]

5. I more or less agree

I see it as an early example of more sophisticated designs and materials that will eventually exist. For example, I keep thinking of these guys, who will print designs for you in stainless steel:

http://www.shapeways.com/materials/steel

So, I imagine that eventually there may be affordable 3d printers for metals, and/or perhaps better plastics, etc. No 3d printing tech I'm aware of can equal the strength of "real" firearms, but we can clearly do better than this current "1-shot" design even now.