I know virtually nothing about 3d printing. This Foxnews video is talking about how you can make a 3D gun. Has anyone made one that will actually shoot without blowing up? How far has this technology advanced?

VIDEO

The potential is there, but the technology is not available widely and is still very expensive. No printed firearm that I have heard of so far has withstood more than a few rounds, but I suspect that as the technology matures, printed firearms will be a reality.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/...-3dprinted-metal-gun-shows-tech-maturity

You don't need many rounds to assassinate somebody. That's why many gov'ts are not happy. Gun control for rebellions works b/c they can dry up weapon supplies effectively for that. Now they are worried about a lone shooter.

The price of 3d printers keeps coming down. You can buy them now for 1-2k and they are much easier to use. You can down load the print files from defense distributed for a printed AR lower and they last for alot more then "a few rounds".

Of course there are other options as well. It's not all that hard to mill out an 80% lower into a 100% lower.

You can print all the parts except for the chamber/barrel, which have to be made of steel. I guess you could get away with .22 Short using a synthetic barrel chamber, if it's substantial enough.

There is a company in Texas I believe that has made a 3D 1911 out of metal and has been firing the test gun. The last I heard the gun is still going strong. This is research and development as it's still cheaper to make a 1911 the old fashion way than the 3D way. But the time is coming.

The technology is only going to get better, and there will be issues and growing pains.

Using a 3d printer to make a gun is more of a novelty than anything.

The technology is wonderful for rapid prototyping parts vs. machining one from billet and making patterns for molds. Asside from that use, not terribly cost effective.

Yeah prototyping is awesome with 3 D printers, that's what I want one for.

https://defdist.org/


http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-22421185

dave

Or just use a drill press:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sRnAA2i_IQ