Non-"nefarious" use for 3D printing

ScottRiqui · February 6, 2013, 02:33 PM

We've had a couple threads here about people soon being able to "print" guns using a relatively-inexpensive 3D printers, but there's another aspect that I'm more excited about - being able to "print" replacement parts for antique or other out-of-production guns.

Teenage Engineering has decided to release the CAD specifications for their music synthesizer knobs as open-source files, so anyone who wants to can print replacement knobs. Soon, I expect people will begin doing the same thing for gun parts that aren't subject to high stresses. Need a set of grips for your 1908 Colt? Print them out! Want a bushing wrench for your 1911 *right now*? Print one out!

Skans · February 6, 2013, 03:20 PM

Boy, I could use a spare fire control group for my AC556!

Kimio · February 6, 2013, 03:25 PM

Hmmm, what about things like BCG' for rare firearms like the FN FNC and stuff like that? It's not like the parts market for them is exploding.

alex0535 · February 6, 2013, 03:28 PM

Yes, a 3D printer is perfect for this sort of stuff although the main use for plastic printed parts will be to provide a prototype for a metal part or other medium that can then be made through CNC milling or casting.

Ever looked into 3D Laser scanners? Probably pretty expensive piece of equipment, but it uses lasers to plot millions of points over an object and creates a CAD file from these millions of points. For oddly shaped or textured parts, it takes hours/days of programing and does it in seconds.

With a good enough printer and scanner you could disassemble a gun, scan it, print the parts, and have yourself a plastic replica of the gun.

Armorer-at-Law · February 6, 2013, 03:31 PM

Today's 3D printers are perfectly capable of creating metal parts servicable as or in a working firearm. They are not just for plastic prototypes.

alex0535 · February 6, 2013, 03:37 PM

If you have a metal 3D printer, yes the technology is there. Expect to pay a lot for it.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...el-not-plastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=20R9nItDmPY#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=Ao319dj6kiM#!

Skans · February 6, 2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Today's 3D printers are perfectly capable of creating metal parts servicable as or in a working firearm. They are not just for plastic prototypes.

I hate to ask, but what does a machine like this cost?

Kimio · February 6, 2013, 03:39 PM

As I understand it, there is a method to do this by scanning the part and then sending it to a CNC machine to fabricate it. Jay Leno used it for crafting replacement parts for his eclectic collection of antique cars. (God I'd love to tour his garage!)

**tyme** · February 6, 2013, 09:09 PM

You could print your own cartridge holders.

Armorer-at-Law · February 7, 2013, 10:47 AM

Quote:

I hate to ask, but what does a machine like this cost?

Depends on size, but I've seem them in the $700k to $1.5 million range.

ScottRiqui · February 7, 2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Depends on size, but I've seem them in the $700k to $1.5 million range.

Pretty heart-stopping, but then I remind myself that ten years ago, a 42-inch plasma was a $14k TV.

Skans · February 7, 2013, 01:43 PM

That's an expensive machine for making one-off parts for guns!

flyinpolack · February 7, 2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

That's an expensive machine for making one-off parts for guns!

They are actually being used a lot for medical implants too.

southjk · February 7, 2013, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Pretty heart-stopping, but then I remind myself that ten years ago, a 42-inch plasma was a $14k TV.

You got screwed. Our main TV, a 50" Plasma bought in 2003 "only" cost about $4000. And it was a pretty good model too. I keep hoping it will die soon so I can rationalize a new/better one with internet access.

Eventually it will be cheap enough for the average person to own a 3D printer but it may be another 20-30 years before that happens.

ScottRiqui · February 7, 2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

You got screwed. Our main TV, a 50" Plasma bought in 2003 "only" cost about $4000. And it was a pretty good model too. I keep hoping it will die soon so I can rationalize a new/better one with internet access.

I just remember reading a bunch of A/V magazines while I was laid up recovering from a motorcycle accident in August 2003. The price I remembered may have been for an absolute top-of-the-line Pioneer or Sony, though. Congratulation on getting 10 years (so far) out of yours!

And while a printer that's currently $1m may never get cheap enough for household use, the prices aren't going to go anywhere but down, and quickly.

Skans · February 7, 2013, 04:25 PM

I just hope they get cheap enough to where gun manufacturers and even gunsmiths can afford them. I just want the parts, not a big piece of machinery that needs 3-phase power and a warehouse.

BitterTait · February 8, 2013, 12:22 AM

We're pretty close to "affordable, high resolution, strong parts, pick 2". 5 years ago, "affordable" wasn't even in the cards. "metal" and "affordable" still isn't in the cards, but that's on it's way as well. I don't see a 3d-printer next to the inkjet anytime soon, but a 3d-printer next to the drill press is a current possibility to the serious hobbyist.

I'm planning on picking one up sometime this year for gun-related use. I have a design for a trigger accelerator I'd like to build and zero machining skills. If you don't mind assembling and sourcing some of the parts yourself, you can build an extrusion printer for under $500.

I could see a decent business making truly custom molded grips. Pop in precise hand measurements into the software, fire up the printer and get target grips designed exactly for you.

MagnumWill · February 8, 2013, 12:37 AM

Another 3D-printer-like way to generate a metal form is a CNC-controlled TIG welder. Takes a little longer, requires machining to clean up, but it would easily provide you a stable platform for a lower, magazine bodies, etc.

February 6, 2013, 02:33 PM	#1
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Non-"nefarious" use for 3D printing We've had a couple threads here about people soon being able to "print" guns using a relatively-inexpensive 3D printers, but there's another aspect that I'm more excited about - being able to "print" replacement parts for antique or other out-of-production guns. Teenage Engineering has decided to release the CAD specifications for their music synthesizer knobs as open-source files, so anyone who wants to can print replacement knobs. Soon, I expect people will begin doing the same thing for gun parts that aren't subject to high stresses. Need a set of grips for your 1908 Colt? Print them out! Want a bushing wrench for your 1911 right now? Print one out!

February 6, 2013, 03:31 PM	#5
Armorer-at-Law Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2002 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 465	Today's 3D printers are perfectly capable of creating metal parts servicable as or in a working firearm. They are not just for plastic prototypes. __________________ Send lawyers, guns, and money... Armorer-at-Law.com 07FFL/02SOT

February 6, 2013, 03:37 PM	#6
alex0535 Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 908	If you have a metal 3D printer, yes the technology is there. Expect to pay a lot for it. http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...el-not-plastic http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=20R9nItDmPY# http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=Ao319dj6kiM#! Last edited by alex0535; February 6, 2013 at 03:43 PM.

February 6, 2013, 09:09 PM	#9
tyme Staff Join Date: October 13, 2001 Posts: 3,355	You could print your own cartridge holders. __________________ “The egg hatched...” “...the egg hatched... and a hundred baby spiders came out...” (blade runner) “Who are you?” “A friend. I'm here to prevent you from making a mistake.” “You have no idea what I'm doing here, friend.” “In specific terms, no, but I swore an oath to protect the world...” (continuum) “It's a goal you won't understand until later. Your job is to make sure he doesn't achieve the goal.” (bsg)

February 8, 2013, 12:22 AM	#17
BitterTait Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 144	We're pretty close to "affordable, high resolution, strong parts, pick 2". 5 years ago, "affordable" wasn't even in the cards. "metal" and "affordable" still isn't in the cards, but that's on it's way as well. I don't see a 3d-printer next to the inkjet anytime soon, but a 3d-printer next to the drill press is a current possibility to the serious hobbyist. I'm planning on picking one up sometime this year for gun-related use. I have a design for a trigger accelerator I'd like to build and zero machining skills. If you don't mind assembling and sourcing some of the parts yourself, you can build an extrusion printer for under $500. I could see a decent business making truly custom molded grips. Pop in precise hand measurements into the software, fire up the printer and get target grips designed exactly for you. __________________ Powered by VI!

February 6, 2013, 03:20 PM	#2
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Boy, I could use a spare fire control group for my AC556!

February 6, 2013, 03:25 PM	#3
Kimio Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,171	Hmmm, what about things like BCG' for rare firearms like the FN FNC and stuff like that? It's not like the parts market for them is exploding.

February 6, 2013, 03:28 PM	#4
alex0535 Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 908	Yes, a 3D printer is perfect for this sort of stuff although the main use for plastic printed parts will be to provide a prototype for a metal part or other medium that can then be made through CNC milling or casting. Ever looked into 3D Laser scanners? Probably pretty expensive piece of equipment, but it uses lasers to plot millions of points over an object and creates a CAD file from these millions of points. For oddly shaped or textured parts, it takes hours/days of programing and does it in seconds. With a good enough printer and scanner you could disassemble a gun, scan it, print the parts, and have yourself a plastic replica of the gun.

February 6, 2013, 03:39 PM	#8
Kimio Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,171	As I understand it, there is a method to do this by scanning the part and then sending it to a CNC machine to fabricate it. Jay Leno used it for crafting replacement parts for his eclectic collection of antique cars. (God I'd love to tour his garage!)

February 7, 2013, 01:43 PM	#12
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	That's an expensive machine for making one-off parts for guns!

February 7, 2013, 04:25 PM	#16
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I just hope they get cheap enough to where gun manufacturers and even gunsmiths can afford them. I just want the parts, not a big piece of machinery that needs 3-phase power and a warehouse.

February 8, 2013, 12:37 AM	#18
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 1,001	Another 3D-printer-like way to generate a metal form is a CNC-controlled TIG welder. Takes a little longer, requires machining to clean up, but it would easily provide you a stable platform for a lower, magazine bodies, etc. __________________ Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...