Testing some of those gun printing files...

[The_Shadow]

I was worried about this old printer, however it seems to have done an excellent job of printing this S&W1006...

[tommac919]

This 3D printing drama issue is just so fake.... who is going to go out an buy a $3k+ 3d printer to make a single shot plastic pistol??  For that much money , you can buy quite a few on the street corner

If your thinking milling machines, then drop an amount 25k +

[sqlbullet]

This 3D printing drama issue is just so fake.... who is going to go out an buy a $3k+ 3d printer to make a single shot plastic pistol??  For that much money , you can buy quite a few on the street corner

If your thinking milling machines, then drop an amount 25k +

Agreed that the drama is just so fake.  But the technologies are actually a bunch cheaper than that.

My 3D printer was $179.  Now, I have not printed any guns on it, but is has a 4.7"X3 axis bed, and should be able to do the job they way they componentize the gun.

And I have my eye on a Precision Matthews PM-25 or PM-30.  They run $1500-$2000 and a CNC conversion would be another $750-$1000.  So, a full CNC machine for about $2250-$3000.  It could not run 16 hour duty cycle 6 days a week like a commerical grade machine, but would be fine for turning out a few AR-15 or 1911 lowers.

Also, used commercial grade mills can be had for under $5k locally.  In fact there are four in the local paper today under $5k, and one of them is a Bridgeport.  The same hobby conversion kits would work fine on them too.  Those big mills are usually 3-phase power which is typically not available in residential areas.  But building your own three phase converter is possible, and you can buy them new for under a grand.

So, the technology is much cheaper and attainable.  But, there is still a significant amount of expertise involved in running such a machine.  More than download file and press a button.  In many cases the 3D file has to be adapted to your machine.

[tommac919]

Agreed that the drama is just so fake.  But the technologies are actually a bunch cheaper than that.
My 3D printer was $179.  Now, I have not printed any guns on it, but is has a 4.7"X3 axis bed, and should be able to do the job they way they componentize the gun.

Yes, I'm aware that there are many 3D printers out there for under $500... it is just that they don't use the same base material to make an object as high end. ( many home units print in ABS )...many of the really low end printers can't use base materials to support the required pressures.

As you state, realistically we're in the several K area or more

[sqlbullet]

The Liberator was single shot because it was being made from ABS or PLA.  In various nylon's it becomes a multi-shot, though how many shots is questionable.

Of course...This guy made a rifled barrel at home without machine tools.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43ZeYu9dnM

So, the limit of ABS/PLA is not really a limit if you are willing to put in some extra elbow grease.

I guess, here is my point, the idea that you need thousands of dollars of machinery to produce a functional firearm is wrong.  You need some knowledge, and the ability to work hard.

If you are a criminal, you are just going to steal a gun, or buy one from a guy who stole it.

[Rojo27]

Funny one Shadow!!!

Now I do have a take off question from key points on sqlbullet's comments....

Agreed that the drama is just so fake.  But the technologies are actually a bunch cheaper than that.

It could not run 16 hour duty cycle 6 days a week like a commerical grade machine, but would be fine for turning out a few AR-15 or 1911 lowers.

Also, used commercial grade mills can be had for under $5k locally. 

So, the technology is much cheaper and attainable.  But, there is still a significant amount of expertise involved in running such a machine.  More than download file and press a button. 

Information can be found online to build any number of tools and implements that can be used for good or evil; that's how knowledge works. 

Question....Assuming one had the expertise & access to technology to relatively inexpensively "turning out a few AR-15 lowers".....How much further is it to turn out a fully automatic non serialized lower? 

Now I'm sure no upstanding, law abiding, model citizen would ever do such a thing as its unquestionably serious Federal crime....  But others are not so much....

I'm not the least concerned about criminals printing "viable", undetection plastic firearms due to the laws of physics, materials fiesability requirements combined with Federal laws.  As Shadow's initial post indicated, it's down right commical! 

However, the quoted material referenced above strikes me as a wholly different topic. 

[sqlbullet]

Question....Assuming one had the expertise & access to technology to relatively inexpensively "turning out a few AR-15 lowers".....How much further is it to turn out a fully automatic non serialized lower? 

If you are making the lower from billet, it will be an extra 5 minutes of mill time.  You just extend the FCG cavity back where it necks down on a standard AR-15.  And another 5 minutes when drilling the FCG pin holes to drill the extra hole for the auto-sear.

It then takes about 15 years of your life to deal with the legal trouble you just bought yourself, unless you have a type 07 FFL with a Class 2 SOT (I think...)

Your question, and point are very valid.  And since the lower is the NFA item, the rest of the parts are readily available.  Auto-sear, hammer, and FA BCG are all out there for under $100 each.