NFOA MEMBERS FORUM
General Categories => General Firearm Discussion => Topic started by: GreyGeek on May 05, 2013, 09:34:19 AM
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/03/this-is-the-worlds-first-entirely-3d-printed-gun-photos/?utm_campaign=techtwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social (http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/03/this-is-the-worlds-first-entirely-3d-printed-gun-photos/?utm_campaign=techtwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social)
Several months ago 3D-Printing Firm Makerbot cracked down on Cody Wilson because he used a 3D printer they sold him to create printable gun designs. In October of last year, Stratasys seized a printer it had rented to Defense Distributed after the company learned how its machine was being used. He fought back. However, his biggest enemy is Steve Israel, the Congressman who wants to ban 3D-printed guns
Early next week, Wilson, a 25-year-old University of Texas law student and founder of the non-profit group Defense Distributed, plans to release the 3D-printable CAD files for a gun he calls “the Liberator,” pictured in its initial form above. He’s agreed to let me document the process of the gun’s creation, so long as I don’t publish details of its mechanics or its testing until it’s been proven to work reliably and the file has been uploaded to Defense Distributed’s online collection of printable gun blueprints at Defcad.org.
All sixteen pieces of the Liberator prototype were printed in ABS plastic with a Dimension SST printer from 3D printing company Stratasys, with the exception of a single nail that’s used as a firing pin. The gun is designed to fire standard handgun rounds, using interchangeable barrels for different calibers of ammunition.
Technically, Defense Distributed’s gun has one other non-printed component: the group added a six ounce chunk of steel into the body to make it detectable by metal detectors in order to comply with the Undetectable Firearms Act. In March, the group also obtained a federal firearms license, making it a legal gun manufacturer.
Even if laws are passed against printing guns, and makers of 3D printing machines regulate their use (which is like automakers dictating where you can drive because cars can be used to commit crimes) it doesn't take a genius IQ to realize that even 3D printers can be made at home and the extrusion plastics obtained from just about anywhere. Not only that, such plastics can be made or modified at home as well.
As this kind of research continues it will be only a matter of time before someone develops devices made on an extrusion process, perhaps using sintered metal dust, that can then be exposed to UV or heated, or both, to create smaller, lighter and stronger parts, including the barrel. And without a 6 oz piece of steel in them.
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Anything that the human mind can conceive, someone will eventually create, perform, or improve upon!
I always emphasize that it is important to remember that every item can be turned into a weapon. Sometimes I even hurt myself without thinking. ;D
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Just saw that you can now buy a 3D printer at Staples for $1,300...
http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/03/technology/innovation/staples-3d-printer/index.html?source=cnn_bin (http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/03/technology/innovation/staples-3d-printer/index.html?source=cnn_bin)
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A guy I work with (company CAD manager) has the CAD file to print one of these lowers...he just needs a 3D printer. The few videos I watched on this, it looked like they were having a problem with durability. The lower was cracking at the front pin after about 600 rounds, but they may have remedied that by now. It's definitely an interesting deal this kid has going. I think they had a segment on an AR special on CNBC that was on recently. Obviously they (CNBC) did everything they could to try and spin it to fit they're agenda.
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by Cody Wilson.
http://defcad.org/liberator/ (http://defcad.org/liberator/)
The file contains a template for a .380 single shot pistol. From what I can tell there are no sights, and without rifling in the barrel there's pretty much no reason to add sights. That limits it to about 20 to 30 feet. It is big and bulky. Not what you'd call a pocket pistol or even for personal defense. It uses a nail for a firing pin and two plastic spiral springs on a plastic hammer to hit the nail when the trigger is pulled.
The barrel can be used for up to 10 shots, IF one soaks it in boiling Acetone for 30 seconds!!! :o , otherwise it's one barrel -- one shot.
I'm not sure there are even criminals that are stupid enough to use this one-shot wonder to commit a crime.
The ignorant news media, as expected, is going ballistic over this, and several politicians have promised to "do something", so all the PC elements are lining up.
Here is the readme.txt file:
This is the first DD Liberator release, tested functional on 5/3/2013 and again on 5/5/2013. Design tweaks included from EXP001 and EXP002 experimental results.
Changes from EXP002:
-Barrel locking lug filet added to reduce stress concentration
-.2" hole added to handle to allow assembly without screw. AR-15 grips will fit, but need a .2" hole drilled .4x.4" from corner. Or download DD's modified AR-15 grip. This is done so you don't need a metal screw to hold the grip on.
-SN removed.
-Hammer body firing pin hole reduced to 140mils to improve firing pin concentricity on primer.
-Trigger stiffened.
How to legally assemble the DD Liberator:
-Print (ONLY) the frame sideways (the shortest dimension is the Z axis).
USC18 922(p)(2)(A)*:
"For the purposes of this subsection (The Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988) - the term 'firearm' does not include the frame or receiver of any such weapon;"
Thus, you can legally print ONLY the frame entirely in plastic, even without 3.7 ounces of steel.
-Once the frame is finished, epoxy a 1.19x1.19x0.99" block of steel in the 1.2x1.2x1.0" hole in front of the trigger guard. Add the bottom cover over the metal if you don't want it to show.
-Once the epoxy has dried, the steel is no longer removable, and is an integral part of the frame. Now your gun has ~6 ounces of steel and is thus considered a 'detectable' firearm. So now you can print all the other parts.
-Print all the other parts.
The barrel must be built up in the z axis.
The springs must be printed flat on their side.
The hammer body should be printed such that the firing pin hole is in the z axis.
The hammer should be printed on its side.
The trigger must be printed on its side.
The spring connecting rod bushing should be printed up in the z axis, to reduce friction.
The spring connecting rod should be printed on its side.
All pins should be printed on their side to take advantage of intralayer strength.
We'll build the trigger first. Take the trigger spring and note that there's a very small lip on one side of the ovular hole. This lip mounts flush to the trigger piece, and gives the spring enough clearance to not drag on the bottom of the inside of the frame. The spring's free ends should point away from the trigger, towards the back of the gun. Mate these two pieces, and then insert into the frame.
Next, we'll build the hammer subassembly. Insert the hammer into the hammer body with the striking cylinder facing the front of the frame. Insert the hammer pin to connect the hammer to the hammer body. Now press both coil springs onto the hammer body. When the hammer is cocked, the coil spring diameter should reduce (not expand). Once both coils are pressed on, pull one of the coil eyelets behind the hammer, and then insert the spring connecting rod into said eyelet. Rest the rod on the hammer. Slide the spring connecting rod bushing over the spring connecting rod, then pull the other spring back and insert the spring connecting rod into the eyelet. Pull the hammer back and make sure everything is working well. Pull the hammer back and drop in the nail and then insert the firing pin bushing concentric to the nail's head. This keeps the nail from falling out when the hammer is cocked. Notice that one side of the firing pin bushing is chamfered... that side faces the hammer.
Next, drop the hammer into the frame. Note that the hammer secures the trigger. Insert three frame pins to secure the hammer body.
Finally, slide the grip onto the frame and insert the grip pin. Your Liberator is now ready to go!
Before firing a barrel, we recommend heating acetone to boiling and treating the barrel for ~30 seconds to decrease the inner diameter friction, which increases barrel life from 1 round to ~10 rounds. Note that we recommend printing multiple barrels and using each only once. Swapping the barrels is simple and fast: rotate the barrel to release the locking cam. Pull up on the barrel. If the barrel cam broke, turn the Liberator upside down to remove the debris. Then drop your new barrel in and rotate it until it locks.
*http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-102/pdf/STATUTE-102-Pg3816.pdf
The question now is: can a sintered metal slide and barrel be printed and used instead of plastic? Could that lead to a magazine which contains, say, 8 or 10 .380 bullets? And would it work as an semi-auto pistol?
Doubtful. Even a best it would probably be a 10 shot throw-a-way weapon, IF it could be printed.
Also, what the media isn't aware of is that even the 3D printer can be made in the garage out of easily obtainable or salvaged parts. It's only rocket science to them.
http://youtu.be/drPz6n6UXQY (http://youtu.be/drPz6n6UXQY)
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It is a pretty unimpressive pistol. It's kinda fun to watch our 'fearless leaders' get their undies in a bunch of something like this. They will have a hard time getting the technology back in the bottle :laugh:
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Sounds like the Liberty guns of WWII. Just a high tech version of the old "zip" gun fabrications. Like Abba stated though, if the idea gets Libs uptight, then it's wonderful whether it works or not. I'll bet the sight of a PVC potato gun would cause them a heart attack. :P
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A more practical weapon is the 9mm submachine gun made from ordinary material obtained at Ace Hardware. The plans for it, and a book about it, were created by an Englishman who spent several months in prison and on electronic watch for writing the book and making a working copy of the weapon. I posted a msg about it a few months ago.
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I've been following reprap stuff since about 2001.
They've finally gotten the granularity on the extruders and stepper motors to a point where it's becoming a useful / plausible tool. They've also come a long way with the belts and piece counts and stuff.
Building a Prusa yourself should cost around $500 (upwards to $750 max). Should be able to build it over the course of a weekend.
Also, anyone who thinks a 3d printed gun is interesting needs to have their checked.
Printing magazines - maybe. That's a big maybe.
Printing recoil spring guide rods - unlikely. Maybe if ya print them long ways instead of built on the z axis. That's still a fair amount of force the rod needs to endure. I wouldn't trust it.
Printing some scope mounts - possibly.
You want to actually have a more useful gun ? Eyeball some AK flats and other stuff and then go buy some sheet metal or tear apart an old shovel.
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There are more practical DIY guns.
A 9 mm submachine gun which hasn't been made:
http://eatgrueldog.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/bsp-smg_book.pdf (http://eatgrueldog.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/bsp-smg_book.pdf)
and one which has been made and works:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6455380/Survival-Expedient-Homemade-Firearms-9Mm-Sub-Machine-Gun-Complete-Instructions (http://www.scribd.com/doc/6455380/Survival-Expedient-Homemade-Firearms-9Mm-Sub-Machine-Gun-Complete-Instructions)
or the book with plans from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Expedient-Homemade-Firearms-The-Submachine/dp/0873649834/ref=pd_sim_b_1&tag=651998669-20 (http://www.amazon.com/Expedient-Homemade-Firearms-The-Submachine/dp/0873649834/ref=pd_sim_b_1&tag=651998669-20)
Here's the PDF for free: (the folks at the "DemocraticUnderground.com, who always have visions of a violent overthrow of the US and are willing to use firearms to accomplish it, link to this PDF)
http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/Expedient-Homemade-Firearms-Vol-II-PA-Luty.pdf (http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/Expedient-Homemade-Firearms-Vol-II-PA-Luty.pdf)
P. A. Luty is the fellow who spent time in jail in England for writing this manual.
And, thehomegunsmith.com also has plans for a 9mm pistol:
http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/9mmPistol.pdf (http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/9mmPistol.pdf)
Here's his .22 silenced pistol:
http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/22pistol.pdf (http://thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/22pistol.pdf)
And, a 12 gauge PISTOL:
http://www.thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/12g-pistol.pdf (http://www.thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/12g-pistol.pdf)
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The state department sent the owner of defense distributed a letter telling him to take down the plans for the 3d printable pistol as uploading it to the Internet may have violated export controls... More here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/09/state-department-demands-takedown-of-3d-printable-gun-for-possible-export-control-violation/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/09/state-department-demands-takedown-of-3d-printable-gun-for-possible-export-control-violation/)
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The state department sent the owner of defense distributed a letter telling him to take down the plans for the 3d printable pistol as uploading it to the Internet may have violated export controls... More here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/09/state-department-demands-takedown-of-3d-printable-gun-for-possible-export-control-violation/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/09/state-department-demands-takedown-of-3d-printable-gun-for-possible-export-control-violation/)
Yup.
See my post about not selling Unfy Plated Bullets (TM) due to the fees associated with needing a license for such things. That would be:
http://nebraskafirearms.org/forum/index.php/topic,8797.msg62130.html#msg62130 (http://nebraskafirearms.org/forum/index.php/topic,8797.msg62130.html#msg62130)
This was wholly to be expected, and isn't really news IMHO.
I'm sure folks will squawk but it's how it is.
No FFL license, no DDTC / ITAR stuff... all kinds of bad.