U.S. Army Embracing 3-D Printed Guns

[Kirk Freeman]

3-D printing firearms is the future, but on INGO, a computer forum, I hear "this whole computer fad will never catch on."

Well, heads up, Old Grouchy Guy, 3-D printing firearms just received an enormous boost in the form of Uncle Sugar.

The U.S. Army 3D-Printed a Grenade Launcher and Called it R.A.M.B.O.

 

[T.Lex]

Hmmm... if DARPA gets in the game, it'll make a huge buyer for this stuff, which could reduce prices even more (if production of the materials can scale up).

 

[mstagg]

The printers needed to print the frame + materials needed for a reliable weapon are going to be ay out of most people's price range... even if they became commonplace.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Impressive. Another Star Trek tech gadget is getting closer and closer to reality.

 

[bmoan]

The machine to print this can be bought for 50K the only problem with this style of FDM can delaminate under stress

 

[Anima mundi]

The machine to print this can be bought for 50K the only problem with this style of FDM can delaminate under stress

I don't think anyone's intending to make a machine gun or a precision rifle out of the materials, but for one-off zip guns and emergency replacement parts it could have a lot of utility.

 

[Sailor]

The current beefed up printed lowers on ABS and PETG have run for 1k rounds without failing.

 

[Leadeye]

I'm following the 3D printing because I see a future where scarce and obsolete parts from old guns could be reproduced.