3d Printing Guns in Texas

[SaintElsewhere]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/download-this-gun-3d-printed-semi-automatic-fires-over-600-rounds/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arstechnica%2Findex+%28Ars+Technica+-+All+content%29

 

Most have probably heard that consumer level 3d printers are capable of printing the lower part of a gun, in this case an AR 15. What most don't know is that this fellow is a self described "crypto-anarchist." From the article:

 

While it may be easy to paint Wilson as a 2nd Amendment-touting conservative, the 25-year-old second-year law student at the Univeristy of Texas, Austin told Ars on Thursday that he’s actually a “crypto-anarchist.”

“I believe in evading and disintermediating the state,” he said. “It seemed to be something we could build an organization around. Just like Bitcoin can circumvent financial mechanisms. This means you can make something that is contentious and politically important—not just a multicolored cookie cutter—but something important. It’s more about disintermediating some of these control schemes entirely and there’s increasingly little that you can do about it. That’s no longer a valid answer.”

 

And he gives a little jab at his university:

 

For now, though, Wilson said that Defense Distributed has essentially taken over the bulk of his time, and he’s effectively become a part-time amateur engineer.

“I don’t go to [law school] class, but I do pass the exams—here’s looking at you {Bar Association]!” he told Ars.

 

 

 

[Robert Stempien]

does anyone know if this will be able to be printed by a rep-rap printer eventually? cause that is the 3d printer that looks the most promising to me

[iajrz]

It likely can be printed by the reprap. I took a look at the plans, and only thing I noticed is it's likely you'll need to smooth out some parts (like the barrel) using an abrassive tool (because of the resolution the reprap has).

Besides, take a good look at the solidoodle; it's the printer I'd recommend right now. If you want a reprap, use the solidoodle to print it the resolution is better and it needs no assembly. (If you're not used to assembling electronics, which might or might not involve soldering, I recommend you steer away from the reprap for quality 3D printing).