In the USA the gun was a pistol about 95%+ plastic, and it did work. He had other plans out before he was shut down.
As for Traveller some things probably just couldn't be manufactured on site due to any number of factors. If it were programming the machine, or the lack thereof I expect some enterprising individuals would find a work around that problem and market it one way or another. But size and scarcity or difficulty in handling some materials on the other hand that would be a real limiting factor.
Tim
On Friday, February 7, 2014 2:57 PM, DEREK STANLEY <> wrote:
>He's made a receiver, the barrel no, but the receiver yes. I think his first attempt fell apart after about 4 rounds but he eventually made one he put about 400 rounds through. He's not actually printing an assembled receiver either afaik, it's parts thar he assembles and springs and such are purchased separately. I've seen an article on a company in Texas that built a ground up rifle on a printer, but the printer cost upwards of 5mill and the rifle was about 50k to mfg. An interesting tech experiment but again completely unviable. Also the springs in this one were purchased separately, the weapon was made as pieces that had to be individually finished and assembled.
>
>
>Most of the barrel attempts I've seen have been useless after a single round.
>
>
>To be honest I can see where in a dozen years you'll be able to print out the parts of a lot of things and maybe even have them finished in the machined so it's all just waiting to be assembled.
>
>
>I can see in Traveller simply having a machine you can feed raw mats into (probably very specialized stuff) where you could print up spares and after market stuff. Lets face it every engineering area on every starship probably has a cabinet sized printer for mfg spares. Your printing limitations would basically be constrained by the materials aboard the ship.
>
>
>Part of me relishes the idea of a stranded crew melting down the frame of Emperor Strephon's painting to make replacement parts.
>
>Derek Stanley
>Sent from my iPhone...
>
>On Feb 7, 2014, at 13:25, DED <> wrote:
>
>
>
>>So has anyone given any thought about how these can be used in Traveller? Over the next few years I think they'll have a noticeable impact on our current society (they in use now but are largely the province of hobbyists and manufacturers). The limits seem to be available material. But I wonder if various nations will impose bans on certain items. Here in the US, at least one guy has already made a gun (I think it was a functioning replica of an AR-15 but I could be wrong). Is it possible that there will be protocols programmed in to prevent the manufacture of firearms?
>>
>>I'm thinking that there will be different sizes available. Ships
could carry around desktop-sized ones that will be limited to
small parts. Machine shop varieties will be able to make larger
parts. Will the manufacturers of the devices be the same ones that
make starship parts? If so, will the machines be programmed to
prohibit those designs to force starships to buy directly from the
manufacturer or a licensed retailer?
>>
>>Or is this how B and C-class starports with insignificant
populations or insufficient local tech levels get around these
limitations? Parts can't be made locally? No problem, we just need
the raw materials and the machine makes them. Insufficient
population for a workforce? No problem, robots can load the
machine all you need to do is tell the machine what to make.
>>
>>Thoughts?
>>
>>\_/
>>DED
>>
>
>
>
As for Traveller some things probably just couldn't be manufactured on site due to any number of factors. If it were programming the machine, or the lack thereof I expect some enterprising individuals would find a work around that problem and market it one way or another. But size and scarcity or difficulty in handling some materials on the other hand that would be a real limiting factor.
Tim
On Friday, February 7, 2014 2:57 PM, DEREK STANLEY <> wrote:
>He's made a receiver, the barrel no, but the receiver yes. I think his first attempt fell apart after about 4 rounds but he eventually made one he put about 400 rounds through. He's not actually printing an assembled receiver either afaik, it's parts thar he assembles and springs and such are purchased separately. I've seen an article on a company in Texas that built a ground up rifle on a printer, but the printer cost upwards of 5mill and the rifle was about 50k to mfg. An interesting tech experiment but again completely unviable. Also the springs in this one were purchased separately, the weapon was made as pieces that had to be individually finished and assembled.
>
>
>Most of the barrel attempts I've seen have been useless after a single round.
>
>
>To be honest I can see where in a dozen years you'll be able to print out the parts of a lot of things and maybe even have them finished in the machined so it's all just waiting to be assembled.
>
>
>I can see in Traveller simply having a machine you can feed raw mats into (probably very specialized stuff) where you could print up spares and after market stuff. Lets face it every engineering area on every starship probably has a cabinet sized printer for mfg spares. Your printing limitations would basically be constrained by the materials aboard the ship.
>
>
>Part of me relishes the idea of a stranded crew melting down the frame of Emperor Strephon's painting to make replacement parts.
>
>Derek Stanley
>Sent from my iPhone...
>
>On Feb 7, 2014, at 13:25, DED <> wrote:
>
>
>
>>So has anyone given any thought about how these can be used in Traveller? Over the next few years I think they'll have a noticeable impact on our current society (they in use now but are largely the province of hobbyists and manufacturers). The limits seem to be available material. But I wonder if various nations will impose bans on certain items. Here in the US, at least one guy has already made a gun (I think it was a functioning replica of an AR-15 but I could be wrong). Is it possible that there will be protocols programmed in to prevent the manufacture of firearms?
>>
>>I'm thinking that there will be different sizes available. Ships
could carry around desktop-sized ones that will be limited to
small parts. Machine shop varieties will be able to make larger
parts. Will the manufacturers of the devices be the same ones that
make starship parts? If so, will the machines be programmed to
prohibit those designs to force starships to buy directly from the
manufacturer or a licensed retailer?
>>
>>Or is this how B and C-class starports with insignificant
populations or insufficient local tech levels get around these
limitations? Parts can't be made locally? No problem, we just need
the raw materials and the machine makes them. Insufficient
population for a workforce? No problem, robots can load the
machine all you need to do is tell the machine what to make.
>>
>>Thoughts?
>>
>>\_/
>>DED
>>
>
>
>