3-D printed gun fires 6 shots — then falls apart

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/streams/...top_medium.jpg
The gun, with broken buffer ring exposed.

The idea of using a 3-D printer to create a gun is controversial and interesting, but it seems to still be a ways off from equaling the quality of machined parts. A gun with a major part printed that way failed after just six shots when some enthusiasts decided to give the tech a try.

Creating a printable gun is the project of Defense Distributed, which is working on what it calls the WikiWeapon. But the effort isn't far enough along to create a working firearm, so Defense Distributed used a design created by another printed-gun creator who goes by the name HaveBlue.

HaveBlue claimed in July to have fired his printed gun hundreds of times, which doesn't seem impossible given the quality of the printing. The part printed by the group is called the lower receiver, which is where a round is received from the magazine. Pictures show it to be very well made, and it appears to fit exactly to the other parts in the gun kit they used.

But the pressure of the recoil appears to have been too much for the "buffer ring," which separates the stock from the upper receiver. After firing just six shots, the gun split in two. It's a serious setback, especially considering they were firing a lower-caliber cartridge than the gun would normally shoot.

The legality of all this is unknown, not to say in dispute. It is legal to create your own firearms, but not to distribute them — and in the case of printed guns there's a bit of both going on. The ATF is looking at the subject, but for now it's all something of a grey area.

The technical aspects of the part, the failure, and the team's plans to improve it can be found at Defense Distributed's blog. You can watch the video of the test below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuDCW...layer_embedded

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/fu...part-1C7404226

Ah well. Back to the drawing board. I'd try either to make a Castleman air rifle, a rocket bullet gun or go CNC and make the thing out of metal.

There are different types and quality of 3D printing. There is no mention of what was used. You can even 3D print metal now.

I'm pretty sure there are lots of traditionally made machined steel prototypes that break after 6 rounds.
This doesn't sound like the gigantic setback the article makes it out to be.

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Originally Posted by fisharmor

I'm pretty sure there are lots of traditionally made machined steel prototypes that break after 6 rounds.
This doesn't sound like the gigantic setback the article makes it out to be.

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True:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj9TB4t-VGM

Redesign.
Rather than copy the AR lower,, Redesign the lower. Make the Buffer housing integrated as a one piece unit.

Design a new lower that mounts the upper in the same manner.

Not a bad idea for mass production. I prefer to like simpler.
;)

That's what happens when you use crappy plastic instead of the carbon resin polymer that Glock uses.

6 shots? Intruder has 6 holes in him? Gives me time to print up a new gun.

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Originally Posted by angelatc

6 shots? Intruder has 6 holes in him? Gives me time to print up a new gun.

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Guess all you need to do is buy enough time to keep printing

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Guess all you need to do is buy enough time to keep printing

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I'm gonna wire a computer and 3D printer up to my alarm system. When an intruder triggers the alarm, a queue of 5 guns starts printing. :toady:

On a more serious note, I really hope this all gains more traction so that reliable, printable firearms become readily and cheaply available.

Seriously, though, the very fact that you can print a gun and actually fire it is a game-changer.

I bet legislation has already been drafted... :(:mad:

can I print money?

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Originally Posted by AFPVet

That's what happens when you use crappy plastic instead of the carbon resin polymer that Glock uses.

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For the grip, and the slide, not for the points that actually handle discharge pressure.

I would be scared shitless about test firing a 3-d printed gun.

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Originally Posted by Athan

For the grip, and the slide, not for the points that actually handle discharge pressure.

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I don't quite understand what you're trying to say... are you saying that it's because the points that are bearing the brunt on this printed gun are plastic? If so, we are in agreement. Slides and slide assemblies are always metal. As for grips, they can be anything. Frames can be metal or carbon resin polymer (a bit stronger than cheap plastic lol).

it only has to work for one shot to make the money worth it.

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Originally Posted by Origanalist

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/streams/...top_medium.jpg

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That looks like a five-seven upper.

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Originally Posted by sluggo

I would be scared shitless about test firing a 3-d printed gun.

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Why? You put it into a machine rest, set up a remote triggering device, stand back and have at it. No need to be nervous.

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Originally Posted by jmdrake

Ah well. Back to the drawing board. I'd try either to make a Castleman air rifle, a rocket bullet gun or go CNC and make the thing out of metal.

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CNC = large capital equipment. CNC = slow process. Sort of defeats the ideas behind 3D printing.

Besides, even a 5-axis machining center might not be able to do the entire job. BRO makes a solid CNC machined lower. They are $$. Even those have the mag wells broached on a separate machine. In terms of the main reasons for doing 3d printing, printing > CNC.

This might be the solution, ultrasonic 3D manufacturing (with metal):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s0J-7W4i6s

This next one has sound, so you might want to turn down your volume:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZnHxLM7eT4

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Originally Posted by VIDEODROME

can I print money?

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Of course, just don't get caught the government hates competition...

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Originally Posted by tod evans

Of course, just don't get caught the government hates competition...

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Yes indeed. Violent individuals hate any competition. They prefer the outcomes fall in their favor all the time and see no issue with using violence to ensure it. This is why these individuals flock to the idea of government: they can violently crush any others who challenge their beliefs and positions of power no matter how ignorant they may be.

Government is the act of hurting others. It is the ignorant who cling to violence.

Hey, it fired!

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Originally Posted by Tpoints

it only has to work for one shot to make the money worth it.

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"Leave the gun. Take the cannolis"

If they're banning large cap mags, maybe that's the what needs to be tested.

To do this right, the properties of the material need to be taken into account and overstressed areas beefed up.

I wonder too if reinforcement could be embedded in the deposition material if the printer head could work around the obstacle. This would probably require another generation of printers that would take into account such obstacles. One example would be with magazines: metal feed lips could be embedded, for prolonged life.

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Originally Posted by Tod

To do this right, the properties of the material need to be taken into account and overstressed areas beefed up.

I wonder too if reinforcement could be embedded in the deposition material if the printer head could work around the obstacle. This would probably require another generation of printers that would take into account such obstacles. One example would be with magazines: metal feed lips could be embedded, for prolonged life.

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That is pretty good thinking.

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Originally Posted by jmdrake

If they're banning large cap mags, maybe that's the what needs to be tested.

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Already done

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...3d-printed-gun

And being noticed

http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets...ines-20130118/

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Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY) is taking the issue of gun-related legislation to the 21st century, by calling for a ban on 3D-printed magazines. No, not the Us Weekly kind — the kind that you attach to a firearm, such as a partially 3D-printed AR rifle.

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That is an AR 57 upper.

I am wondering if they used a heavy buffer that is NECESSARY to slow the bolt. The 57 buffer is much heavier than one that comes with your average .223.

This may have had nothing to do with the printing, but rather a lack of understanding of the AR 57.