Metal 3D printed gun: http://goo.gl/124flS
--
Mario
http://mario.silent-tower.org/
On Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 4:50 PM, Tim O'Reilly <> wrote:
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
--
Mario
http://mario.silent-tower.org/
On Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 4:50 PM, Tim O'Reilly <> wrote:
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>