Solid Concepts Manufactures First 3D-Printed Metal Pistol 333
Zothecula writes "In a prime example of past meets future, a Texas-based company has used a century-old classic firearm as the blueprint for the world's first 3D-printed metal gun. Solid Concepts' use of a laser sintering method to create a fully functional Model 1911 automatic pistol is the latest demonstration of the potential of 3D printing techniques in industrial processing. The company's 'The gun proves laser sintering can meet tight tolerances. 3D Metal Printing has less porosity issues than an investment cast part and better complexities than a machined part. The barrel sees chamber pressure above 20,000 psi every time the gun is fired.'"
This is why we can't have nice things... (Score:5, Insightful)
This is why we can't have nice things....
Couldn't 3D printers make the news the first few years of going mainstream by producing hospital equipment or something?
Re:Because plastic is for pansies (Score:3, Insightful)
Your choice of posting name is appropriate.
Re:Automatic pistol? (Score:5, Insightful)
For the same reason that they refer to intermediate cartridges as "high power": journalists are morons.
Re:Good enough for rocket engines (Score:5, Insightful)
Why is anyone surprised laser sintering is more than capable of this? This is nothing more than tech demo clickbait; anyone following the capabilities of SLS already knew this was well within the realm of possibility. Just nowhere close to the realm of practicality from a fiscal perspective.
Also, it's a waste of weight and money to do it this way. SLS should be used for key parts, but the rest should be normal 3D printed plastic (like a Glock).
And as we all know, 100% of Slashdot readers are well versed in laser sintering techniques and capabilities.
The article explains why - as a demonstration of some of the ways this process is superior to machining. I'm a nerd, it's news to me, and it matters in the context of the potential for 3d printing to change significant aspects of society, and yes, firearm availability is significant.
Re:Automatic pistol? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why are semi-automatic weapons so often referred to as automatic? It seems to be a common misnomer in the US but I'm curious why.
Sensationalism; the same reason putting a synthetic stock with a Weaver rail on it magically turns an ordinary deer rifle into a "military grade assault weapon."
Re:Automatic pistol? (Score:4, Insightful)
"journalists are morons."
And they have agendas.
Re:This is why we can't have nice things... (Score:4, Insightful)
The FDA is a lot more strict about the manufacturing of hospital equipment than the BATFE is about guns.
Re:What would you recommend? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Prediction: There will be heavier restrictions. (Score:4, Insightful)
Example: most NRA members (75%) support sensible gun control
And how many people agree on a single definition of sensible?
Nutters will try to ban 3d printers now (Score:0, Insightful)
Nutters will try to ban 3d printers now. Except that you can still buy machine tools to make guns. I think some thoughtless (there are other words to better describe it but we will go with thoughtless) politicians decide that 3d printers should be banned "because you can make the guns with them". Ignore the fact that you can make a zip gun out of a lot less, and all the guns made during world wars 1 and 2 and all the wars since were made without 3d printers, and all those machines are still available, and you can still buy guns in the US so long as you can prove you are at least 5 years old and have the cash to buy the AK47. Some gun dealers might require that your mom send a note, but most won't bother her for it. You will likely have to pay cash, and should remember to get the night scope and 300,000 rounds of hollow point ammunition.
Re:This is why we can't have nice things... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Guns are good (Score:4, Insightful)
In summary, the best measurable statistic appears to be "chance of death from all causes" at the national level.
Is this a parody of clear thinking? Obviously such a broad statistic is going to be most heavily influenced by factors totally unrelated to crime and guns, since the vast majority of people are not murdered.
Comparing England and Switzerland indicates that "more guns" is associated with "less mortality".
Doubtful. More like national service, an effective police force, high standards of living and high wages all combine to make people less inclined to murder each other, with guns or otherwise. Most violent crime is due to anger or poverty, not a careful calculation that the other person is unlikely to have the means to defend themselves with deadly force.
Undecidable: In the US, a non-suicide gunshot victim is automatically a murder
If a modern country like the United States can't even differentiate between murder and accidental shootings it really suggests that there is some deliberate attempt to make those stats unavailable, which in turn suggests they are not favourable.
Wrong statistic: Having a gun depresses the chance of crime for your neighbors
No, it increases the chances that the robber will be armed and willing to shoot first. In the UK armed robbery, especially of residences, is extremely rare and burglars almost always run when confronted.
Guns actually have little to do with the crime rate in the US. Poverty and gang culture is what drives it, as well as some exceptionally stupid drug laws.