General Discussion

krispos42

(49,445 posts)

95. Except that the mechanical equivalent is already readily available.

Thu May 9, 2013, 02:20 PM

May 2013

I can order everything I need to build a dozen - or a hundred - plastic guns from McMaster-Carr. All the stuff I mentioned before... Delrin or other high-strength plastics, saws, drill bits, tap-and-die sets, etc.

What is stopping me from building a little factory right now in my basement, especially since I just got laid off?

Nothing, except that, like nearly all people, I'm an honest person. And I think you're going to have to trust people on that.

I mean, really, do we need to start heavily regulating lathes and milling machines now as well? Registering them? Random inspections of homes that have them? Track purchases of high-strength plastics like we track pseudophedrine and fertilizer?

I understand your concern, but it's an evolution of an ability that was already widespread throughout the country.

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This message was self-deleted by its author [View all] Junkdrawer May 2013 OP

They can't really be closely regulated Fumesucker May 2013 #1

They can and they will.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #3

A 3D printer is a lot easier to make than say a milling machine or a lathe Fumesucker May 2013 #10

I'd trust a plastic gun about as far as I could throw one. hobbit709 May 2013 #12

It threatens to be the next murder weapon of choice... Junkdrawer May 2013 #19

I'd give it a 50% chance of blowing up in your hand. hobbit709 May 2013 #21

I'm hearing that the latest versions fire 3-4 rounds very reliably. Junkdrawer May 2013 #22

Small caliber. hobbit709 May 2013 #24

I said: murder weapon of choice, not bear hunting weapon of choice. n/t Junkdrawer May 2013 #25

"bear hunting weapon" onpatrol98 May 2013 #90

I imagine you'd REALLY piss off a bear with a 22 short. n/t Junkdrawer May 2013 #92

FaceBomb! grahamhgreen May 2013 #94

RepRap Yo_Mama May 2013 #73

And that's why they were invented 100 years ago? WinkyDink May 2013 #30

I fail to see the point of your comment Fumesucker May 2013 #31

Yep. In the long run, they are accelerating the demise of their culture. onehandle May 2013 #2

If, they weren't such assholes and irresponsible, gun RKP5637 May 2013 #8

Amen. After Aurora, I found out that gunners are using rubber bands... Junkdrawer May 2013 #13

Or regulate rubber bands. Orrex May 2013 #15

lol eShirl May 2013 #18

no WAY! zerosumgame0005 May 2013 #84

Naa..., They'll regulate rubber bands first. RC May 2013 #85

Regulated how? eShirl May 2013 #4

Watch. Buying a 3D printer will be as "easy" as buying a Thompson machine gun... Junkdrawer May 2013 #6

In other words, you have no clue what you're talking about. eShirl May 2013 #7

In other words you can only respond with an insult... Junkdrawer May 2013 #9

How are regulations going to keep people from printing what they want on their printers? eShirl May 2013 #11

My point is that 3D PRINTERS will be regulated. n/t Junkdrawer May 2013 #14

I'm sorry, that's just delusional, IMO, to think that's going to work in the real world. eShirl May 2013 #16

You mean like Xerox copy machines were regulated? RC May 2013 #86

see post #65 n/t Junkdrawer May 2013 #87

They all faced enthusiastic attempts to outlaw them in a *much* less corporatized government. (nt) Posteritatis May 2013 #111

You know you can use a 3d printer to print the parts to build 3d printers? FSogol May 2013 #26

Almost like the inventors sensed that 3D printers will be regulated.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #27

Self replicating machines have been a "holy grail" of "inventors" for a long time Fumesucker May 2013 #28

What's the matter? Did I throw a turd into your "These printed guns are great!" punchbowl? Junkdrawer May 2013 #32

Ready, Fire, Aim Fumesucker May 2013 #34

So it's the 3D printing technology you are defending? Junkdrawer May 2013 #40

I'm not "defending" anything, I'm stating facts Fumesucker May 2013 #43

it's out, and it's been out for a while now eShirl May 2013 #97

I don't know about that. HappyMe May 2013 #35

Let's see how this plays out. Right now 3D printers are expensive and rare. Junkdrawer May 2013 #36

Okay then. HappyMe May 2013 #38

Five hundred Euros is "expensive"? Fumesucker May 2013 #41

Looks like we're at the same place personal computers were in, say, 1975.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #42

The type of people who tend to want to make things are just the ones who have those skills Fumesucker May 2013 #50

No so worried about "The type of people who tend to want to make things".... Junkdrawer May 2013 #56

It's going to be a vast market shortly Fumesucker May 2013 #63

It pays for itself after you've made a dozen guns. JVS May 2013 #52

Yes..... EXPENSIVE!!!!! rdharma May 2013 #93

Staples sells one for less than the cost of a gaming computer eShirl May 2013 #99

I'm hearing (see post just above yours) that the inexpensive ones won't do the job.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #100

So why are you lamenting what "could have been a great tool for garage inventors?" eShirl May 2013 #102

As the printers become more accuate and use better and better polymers.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #103

Uh oh, this is where the self-replicating robots begins! JVS May 2013 #37

Uh oh, this is where the self-replicating robots begins! FSogol May 2013 #39

Uh ohh tis i were thee sef--replicating replicating #syntax error^ *reboot* Uh oh... think May 2013 #45

Would have been funnier if Recursion had posted it.. Fumesucker May 2013 #51

nerd duzy n/t nebenaube May 2013 #57

I think he's out searching trees.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #83

^^this^^ Puzzledtraveller May 2013 #75

Society may indeed protect itself Orrex May 2013 #20

They still will be. RevStPatrick May 2013 #5

Thank you HappyMe May 2013 #17

Just like color laser printers are highly regulated, thanks to counterfeiters, right? *snort* n/t X_Digger May 2013 #23

Color laser printers aren't capable of making arms. *snort* n/t onehandle May 2013 #29

So, a case of 'special pleading', then. Gotcha. n/t X_Digger May 2013 #44

Imagine how this will play out in nations that DO closely regulate guns.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #46

Two points: Chan790 May 2013 #48

For your second point there's a one word answer, Craigslist Fumesucker May 2013 #58

They are. jeff47 May 2013 #65

Hey, you're suppose to pepper such responses with snark and insults.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #70

Yet you can still buy them and pay cash, or buy a used one. X_Digger May 2013 #118

Tracing from the manufacturer is one option. jeff47 May 2013 #119

Color laser printers don't stir up the Think Of The Children brigade. (nt) Posteritatis May 2013 #112

That's me alright. PROUD member of the Think Of The Children brigade.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #120

Today's dose of regulatory mania? dairydog91 May 2013 #33

Has anyone proposed restricting 3D printer sales, Nye Bevan May 2013 #47

Kinda...."California may outlaw 3-D printed guns" Junkdrawer May 2013 #49

I think that's because there isn't an actual problem yet. arcane1 May 2013 #104

I'm thinking there may be limits on the precision and polymers used.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #105

Every other 3D printing thread on DU has people fretting about that, so yes. (nt) Posteritatis May 2013 #110

How can we ban plastic guns / high capacity clips / full-auto conversion kits.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #121

I'm part of You Guys now? Interesting. (nt) Posteritatis May 2013 #124

If the technology gets cheap enough, you can't. dairydog91 May 2013 #125

I have a small machine shop in my garage ripcord May 2013 #53

As a kid I made zip guns out of pipe and car antennas. How long until they regulate FSogol May 2013 #61

The whole point of 3D printing is that it takes almost no skills to print a part... Junkdrawer May 2013 #62

Soon as I get my hands on one snooper2 May 2013 #69

Think the world is really ready for that? Junkdrawer May 2013 #78

no, but my garage is snooper2 May 2013 #79

On VICE they filmed some people in the Philippines killbotfactory May 2013 #54

Next up...... whistler162 May 2013 #55

Home improvement stores HappyMe May 2013 #64

It's my understanding it's not illegal to make your own gun for your own use krispos42 May 2013 #59

3D printing wants to be cheap and easily available. Junkdrawer May 2013 #88

Except that the mechanical equivalent is already readily available. krispos42 May 2013 #95

Do you really believe everything you have posted in this thread.. snooper2 May 2013 #60

It's just flamebait. HappyMe May 2013 #66

Seen this? Junkdrawer May 2013 #67

There's a lot of crap that should be HappyMe May 2013 #71

"Inventors got along without 3d printers before" Junkdrawer May 2013 #74

Yeah, and..? HappyMe May 2013 #81

Any state that outlaws 3D printers is going to have a huge competitive disadvantage Fumesucker May 2013 #77

How about the special polymers used in 3D printing.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #80

That might actually be a dumber proposal than outlawing the printers outright. (nt) Posteritatis May 2013 #114

That's a proposal to "ban guns made using 3-D printing", not the printers themselves. arcane1 May 2013 #106

Big difference between making the output illegal and the machine itself Spike89 May 2013 #108

This "3-D printers fear" could just be an attempted distraction from the Benghazi "cover up"! rdharma May 2013 #76

Junkdrawer, I want to let you in on something I think is true...though you may disagree. Poll_Blind May 2013 #68

I can see some truth in that. But I also see cheap, printable guns as a big POTENTIAL problem. Junkdrawer May 2013 #72

You may be closer to the truth than you think... wandy May 2013 #82

And it's that little plastic part that causes us to replace instead of repair, just how they like it arcane1 May 2013 #107

LOL rrneck May 2013 #89

So...I did a "3D printer gun" search using that Google box at the top of the page... Junkdrawer May 2013 #91

When 3D printers are outlawed, only guns will kill 3D printers. Marr May 2013 #96

I'm not worried. It's just Leland Yee grandstanding as usual. Throd May 2013 #98

So are lathes, drill presses and milling machines jberryhill May 2013 #101

It's a new technology and people love panicking over those Posteritatis May 2013 #113

Can I have an erlenmeyer flask please.... Pholus May 2013 #109

Learn something new every day.... Junkdrawer May 2013 #115

Yes. dairydog91 May 2013 #123

Hasn't the garage already been invented? Tommy_Carcetti May 2013 #116

Took 116 posts..... Junkdrawer May 2013 #117

jail all nerds dembotoz May 2013 #122

Jail the nerds, chemists, and metalworkers! dairydog91 May 2013 #126