3D Printed Guns – The reality of the situation (Video)

After just watching another uninformed news segment on 3D printed guns, this time on Sunrise, I felt impelled to post some facts about the reality of such a thing.

Can you actually 3D Print a Gun?

Yes it is possible. Cody Wilson of Defcad.com has released files on the internet for a hand gun which is capable of firing a single bullet. When I say hand gun its more of a zip gun then a fully working fire arm. Zip guns, or improvised firearms as Wikipedia refers to them, can be constructed from every day items such as a simple metal tube, a torch body, PVC tubing or even just a piece of wood. Every one of those items is way more accessible to the average Joe then a 3D printer at this point in time.

Can it really fire nails, shards of glass etc?

NO. Like most conventional firearms a 3D printed gun can only fire a bullet. The bullet cartridge or shell contains the propellant the actually fires the bullet. Like conventional guns, the 3D printed gun swings a hammer (a nail) which contacts the end of the bullet casing, igniting the propellant and sending the bullet forward. A 3D printed gun on its own is not capable of firing anything. The only danger a 3D printed gun posses on its own is if someone threw it at you, and being made of plastic the worst it could do is give you a nasty bruise.

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FormLabs release software for the Form1 – PreForm

Since the huge success of their kickstarter campaign the people at FormLabs have been working diligently on the release of their new PreForm Software.

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Lulzbot: TAZ 3D Printer

The TAZ 3D Printer from Lulzbot merges technical expertise with design sensibilities and is for inventors, entrepreneurs, design engineers and prototypers – according to it’s manufacturers.

The TAZ 3D Printer is currently only available in North America, however it will soon be available in Canada and the UK.

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Printing in 3D Layers

Previously 3D FDM machines could only print in 2D layers, which in turn created a 3D product.

However now resourceful 3D printing enthusiasts have created a real 3 dimensional printer.

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BotObjects to announce product specs on the first full colour FDM 3D printer on the 22nd May

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BotObjects claimed they have developed a technology to allow full colour parts to be printed using FDM technology back in April this year dubbed the Prodesk3D. Although they did not release any details on how they are actually doing so or show any images of the 3D Printer or Printed Parts that could all change in a few days as a few hours ago BotObjects tweeted that they will be announcing specs for these machines on the 22nd of May. We’ll be waiting and watching with a keen eye for the details.

“Our new full website will feature technical specification for the ProDesk3D and is due out on Wednesday 22nd May”

So lock it in the calendar (probably be the 23rd in Oz) and we’ll see what they disclose. Hopefully they share some images of printed parts as well as specifications.

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Desktop SLA printing is coming with the Form1 – Now Shipping

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As far as kickstarter projects go the Form1 is a project I am personally super excited about. And today they released an update saying they had just shipped their first batch of units to their backers! Like a lot of Kickstarter projects, the Form1 shipped several months after its original shipping date, but when you raise almost 30 times you original funding goal of $100,000 you can bet they had a lot more work laid out for them than they originally anticipated.

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3D Printed trophies for the Super Happy Silvercan Race (Video)

Our friends who run Super Happy Drift (radio controlled drifting series) decided to take a break from going sideways to see who was fastest around the track the conventional way… Enter the Super Happy Silvercan race. For those of you not familar with the term Silver can, it refers to the bog stock 540 motor which most stock RC cars run, and its is silver in colour, hence the name silvercan. But as any good competition goes theres not point competing unless you can win a cool trophy. So Dylan from SHD designed up a sweet set of trophies for first, second and third place using Autodesk 123D and printed them out on a 3D Touch printer from PLA. Being his first time using 123D and also a 3D printer the results are pretty impressive. Check out the video after the jump for some action packed RC racing!

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FormLabs founders interviewed on the Innovators

Max and Nathan were recently interviewed on “The Innovators” and gave some insight into FormLabs and the upcoming Form1 3D printer which is making high quality SLA printing accessible to almost anyone.

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Aus-Tech: AiGTS kids get excited for 3D Printing

The AiGTS students were down at Aus-Tech today to have a look at some recent evolutions in industry and they immediately fell in love with the thought of 3D Printing!

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Aus-Tech: Advanced Manufacturing CRC

Get down to Aus-Tech this week and have a chat to the team from  Advanced Manufacturing CRC:

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