Sure, you *could* print a crappy gun with a 3D printer. (Warning, heartwarming video)

[Robb]

Or, instead, you could do something helpful.

"And we thought, well, why don't we *print* it out for her..."

[NYC_SKP]

1. K/R. I can't count how many teachers and others I've shared this video with.

Thanks for posting it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Pretty freakin' awesome. n/t

[LuvNewcastle]

3. That printer is an amazing device.

I think it's going to have a huge impact on how we all live. Will the little girl ever be able to use her arms without aid? She's a beautiful child.

[GreenStormCloud]

4. False dicotomy.

3-D printers can do both. And the capabilities of such printers is rising while the prices are falling.

[Robb]

5. Dichotomy? One task is just for assholes.

The other helps a little girl use her arms.

[ellisonz]

8. +1000

[GreenStormCloud]

9. The same person can do both.

It is only your prejudice that says that printing a gun is evil. BTW - At current technology the most that can be printed are AR-15 lowers, 30 round magazines, and some miscellaneous parts. Complete guns can't be done yet.

[Robb]

14. Not evil. Just asshole.

Assholes aren't evil, they're just assholes.

[TheFutureWillCome]

26. some people buy

cigarettes, and beer instead of giving all that money away to an organization to help disabled children, but most don't that doesn't mean they are all assholes.

[geek tragedy]

18. People are prejudiced against death machines and the Neanderthals who belong to the NRA. nt

[Robb]

23. GreenStormCloud says he's a proud NRA member.

I wonder if I'll get this post hidden for speaking that truth. Bit of a conundrum for a jury, if you think about it.

Calling him an NRA member is of course accurate, but that has little to do with things. If I call an asshole an asshole, I'd likely get the post hidden for my trouble.

The NRA are true villains, tools of the right wing and anathema to everything liberals and progressives stand for. So calling a DUer an "NRA member" could be seen as an insult, accuracy notwithstanding.

But if it's not an insult -- if a jury chooses not to hide -- then surely GreenStormCloud deserves to be shown the door, being that which is so universally despised and embodying a culture wholly incompatible with DU's terms of service. Or if it *is* an accurate statement, the same situation presents itself.

As I say, quite a pickle.

[geek tragedy]

24. The only good DUer who belongs to the NRA is a banned one.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1172&pid=59168

But, for some reason rightwing gundamentalists get more deference here than do rightwingers on abortion, marriage equality, labor etc.

[MineralMan]

22. Someone has already done a complete firearm.

It's been on DU for a couple of days. It's a throwaway single-shot, but the only metal in it is a nail. It's the modern-day zip gun.

So, you're incorrect, and more such designs will appear, I'm sure. That is the wrong use of this technology.

[Erose999]

27. But one could print lowers and high cap mags and get the rest of the parts through mail order thus

bypassing any background check or whatever local ordinannces might restrict someone who isn't supposed to have a weapon from having one.

And unlike Mr. T, I will have no pity for these fools in the event that their plastic guns blow up in their faces causing them great bodily harm.

[Canuckistanian]

12. It's the CHOICE of tasks that pisses us off

The world doesn't need more guns. There are quite enough, thank you.

[GreenStormCloud]

13. Who made you the determinant of the world's needs?

There are many millions of people who disagree with you.

[GreenStormCloud]

17. That is for the admins to decide, not you.

I have been here for a few years.

[MineralMan]

21. That's not your call in any way.

Truly.

[baldguy]

19. It's a choice between swords or plowshares.

3D printed guns have no purpose other than to make deadly weapons more easily available to murderers, terrorists & criminals.

[GreenStormCloud]

25. The same printer can do both.

I would choose both.

[baldguy]

28. Are you a murderer, terrorist or criminal?

No? Then you have no need for a plastic gun.

[GreenStormCloud]

29. The U.S. does not have a Dept. of Needs.

I don't have to get your approval. All I have to do is want one and have the money to buy it. As it so happens, I don't want one, but if I did I would buy such a printer.

[baldguy]

31. The U.S. does not have a Dept. of Wants either.

[GreenStormCloud]

33. you seem not to understand how freedom works.

I don't have to ask Big Brother for permission. I get to want what I want and if I have the money to buy it, I can get it. And you don't get to stop me.

There are some exceptions for which the government has demonstrated an overriding need for government control. So far plastic gun parts are not among them. If I wanted to, I could print an AR-15 lower.

[baldguy]

34. You don't seem to understand that having a gun doesn't make you free.

And nobody is free if any random asshole can arbitrarily take their life away. Making it easier to do that is pure terrorism.

[GreenStormCloud]

36. It is not that a gun makes me free, as it doesn't.

It is that I am free to own a gun.

That you are so futilely upset by me owning several guns, and carrying one of them on me, is an added bonus.

What are you going to do about the ability of people to download plans for gun parts and make them at home with additive printers? Nothing? That's what I thought.

[baldguy]

38. Guns make us LESS FREE.

Last edited Wed May 8, 2013, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

They force people to live in fear - and where there is fear there can be no freedom.

These guns should be illegal, just like IEDs and child porn. They're easy to make too. We still have laws against making them, because they exist only to cause harm to people. And we treat those who make them as pariahs.

Why? Because people who see this technology & can only think of ways to harm people with it are evil.

edit to add toon:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022813707

[Uzair]

32. Do you realize how you sound right now?

Why not build a few pipe bombs while you're at it. Freedom! Right to choose!

[morningfog]

37. Wow. You must be a joy at parties. Can't let anything threaten your sweet sweet love.

[Orrex]

6. Holy shit that's awesome!

What a beautiful little girl!

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. Heartening. K&R

[ellisonz]

10. Incredible. n/t

[KatyaR]

11. Don't tell me people can't do amazing, wonderful, life-changing things.

This makes the crap in the world seem a little less crappy. Thanks, Robb.

[baldguy]

20. People who see this technology & can only think of ways to harm people with it are evil.

[Sirveri]

30. All those parts are easily made with traditional manufacturing techninques.

No real need for a 3d printer there. Though for one shots, it's not a bad deal, still has a 20-30 hour lead time though. My school actually has that same printer... costs about 30k$.

[Robb]

35. I liked that they could replace broken parts quickly

...without stockpiling them.

[Sirveri]

39. You'd have to stockpile them, unless you're OK with going without for 24 hours...

3d printing is a very slow process. I've actually got a part off of a 3d printer that looks identical to the one in the video. 18 hours to print, then you need to submerge them in lye for a while to get the interface plastics off, then you have to clean and reassemble. Add that on to shipping if it's not inside your house (which at 30k it likely isn't).

[uncle ray]

40. it would take more time to make the same replacement part with traditional machining processes.

i do it everyday, my job is prototyping orthopedic implants and instruments. there is a heck of a lot more to go wrong with standard machining as well. with a 3d printer, once the machine starts, you can turn the lights off and go home or do something else. to machine it the standard way would require multiple setups, extensive tooling, etc. with an experienced machinist working on it the whole time.

[Sirveri]

41. Not those parts it wouldn't.

You can also shut the lights off and go home with CNC machining, and then it's made of 6061-T6 Aluminum most likely. Not like we're talking hastalloy or something really strange. Drill and cut the entire outer contour, leave 1/8-1/4" on the bottom and then hit the back side with the shell mill. Once the program is written it takes all of 20 minutes. The guy is already running solidworks, toss it into a CAM package like mastercam and grab the G-code, set your tools, and go.

Yeah, you want to do it manually for all those contours using a rotary table, it'll take a long time, I was talking CNC, which is pretty traditional at this point considering we've had it for almost 50 years now.

I could make as many parts, out of an arguably better material, faster, with a traditional CNC machine than a 3D printer can do it.