Company it’s leased from takes it back claiming project is illegal.
Highly bogus claim, I suspect. ATF is probably on the sidelines picking up legalistic how-to-seize tips.
Company it’s leased from takes it back claiming project is illegal.
Highly bogus claim, I suspect. ATF is probably on the sidelines picking up legalistic how-to-seize tips.
Well its a lease. If they are within contract rights they can do what they like. If not then time for legal action.
They’re dreaming if they think they can get a license now. The BATFE are in charge of issuing those. There is no way they would want this kind of capability “out in the wild”, even tho the genie is already out of the lamp/bottle.
Should have raised the money and shut up about the leased equipment til he could buy his own outright.
Any 3D printing companies will never knowingly allow their products to be brought for gun-making for liabilities reasons.
Should have just bought it. That this possibility apparently never even occurred to them speaks volumes about their intelligence.
Laird — or their naivete.
Or their budget. They may have thought of it and hoped the leasor wouldn’t yank their lease. In any case, they got some publicity out of it. Maybe enough that now they can afford to buy a machine.
Looks like everyone is assuming the “illegal” activity is firearms manufacturing. If the ATF is involved, that could be. Maybe we’ll see them putting pressure on CNC mill companies selling to hobbyists.
Or maybe the suspected illegal activity is something else.
Defense Distributed’s web site states they plan to “create a 100% printable design” and then “adapt it to cheaper printers”. (http://defensedistributed.com/proofgun-2/) “100%” includes the barrel/chamber. But they spec’d and obtained a printer that sinters ABSplus plastic pellets. Sintered ABS pellets will not withstand the chamber pressure of a .22LR cartridge; at least not with something the size of a handgun. So they clearly can’t do what they said they were raising money to do. And note: They weren’t just working up basic designs on a cheap unit with long-range plans to port them to a more capable printer. They specifically said they intended to adapt their plans to “cheaper printers”. What’s cheaper than sintered thermoplastic? Papier mache? (Actually, I’ve seen a single-shot disposable paper shotgun: rolled up magazines. Wouldn’t want to fire it with my own hands.)
The printer company might well be concerned that DD appears to be doing one thing while raising money claiming to be doing something else: fraud.
NOTE: I’m NOT saying that DD is running a fraud. I’m only saying that on the face of it, the rental company might have some valid concerns.
I’m still not seeing any particular advantage to this printed gun thing. There are dozens of ways to form lots of different types of plastic and other materials, as well as metals. If people have the raw materials, equipment and a power source, there are many viable ways to make guns privately and quietly.
I just don’t get it…
MamaLiberty, There are lots of ways to do lots of things. 3D printing is an immature technology. People are pushing the envelope trying to develop it into a mature technology that unskilled consumers can take advantage of and that governments will have a difficult time regulating. So far we can’t print a tricked out 1911. In time we may be able to do fantastic things with the technology, and, maybe not. Only continued research will answer our questions. I’m sure lots of people thought Steve Jobs was wasting his time working in his garage trying to create a cheap easy to use computer. It is often cranky people with crazy ideas who make the world a more interesting place, some for good and some for ill. We don’t have to get it.
No doubt, Woody… it just seems like doing things the hard way. But, more power to them. As long as they are spending their own money and time, I don’t have any arguments with them. 🙂