Source
r/guns•
dniced

Questions regarding feasibility of 3D printed gun parts (e.g. lowers) and mags.

I'm a Computer Science researcher and gun enthusiast that happens to have a 3D printer (ABS or PLA capable). Does anyone with more gun-knowledge than I have thoughts on the current limitations of ABS 3D printed weapons parts? I'm especially interested in the prospect of 3D printed magazines. I own both a Saiga 12 and an AR-15 (though not hurting for mags on that one). I'm capable of 3D printing a magazine, but I'm not sure how long it would last, or if it would even be worth it. Also, I'm in Alabama so no legal concerns as of yet with regard to magazine capacity. Thanks!

edit: TIL clip vs. magazine. I've always used them interchangeably.

Posted Feb 7, 2013, 12:46 PM UTC · edited

1533
aranasyn•

http://defensedistributed.com/

Good place to start.

15
[deleted]•

What kind of 3D printer and what material do they use?

2
ryleph•

MAKE magazine just published an article about Cody Wilson from defense distributed. http://blog.makezine.com/2013/02/07/the-face-of-printable-firearms-a-conversation-with-cody-wilson/

1
fedupwith•

You can download the magazine file at defcad.org, you can go here for the springs. You have the printer, do it and report back to us! Please do so in video form.

12
dnicedOP•

I've ordered springs and am currently assembling my 3D printer. The first thing I'm going to try printing out a few magazines for my AR-15 in ABS, PLA, Nylon, and hopefully, Nylon 6. I also may consider mix and matching materials to improve durability in certain areas. Anyway, I'll certainly report on my findings.

2
fedupwith•

Yes. This pleases me. Greatly. Don't forget to YouTube it.

1
ZeroSumHappiness•

ABS and PLA are mostly unsuitable for anything gun, except that they can be used to make molds for casting.

10
natermer•

This.

You can use them for parts of guns, but you can't get close to anything like a glock or commercial poly lower on a AR with these materials.

The technology is improving, however. It's just a matter of time before you can take a few metal parts (springs, bearing surfaces, trigger assembly parts, barrels) and put them into a printed plastic gun and have it work.

8
AspiringEccentric•

You could make a 10 round magazine and test it out. It would be less in material cost and can provide you with life data.

(Without having 3d printed gun part experience) I would think that the feed lips would be the biggest area of concern. I would think you may also use a file based on one of the many polymer magazines already on the market. Based on the material properties, it looks like PLA may be better, but it may be more susseptable to delection when heated that ABS. (This may differ between material vendors)

I would avoid printed parts for all uses outside of novelty and paperweights. But if I had acess to a 3d printer I would print gun parts out too.

3
AspiringEccentric•

*deflection

1
Brotherauron1•

I don't know anything about what 3d printer can handle it, but someone did make an AR lower and a magazine using a polymer plastic and a 3d printer.

2
htruong•

The lower was printed, but failed at the buffer tube thread when doing live fire testing with .223 I believe. There was another one that was done with a bufferless .22 that worked okay. I don't recall seeing a working magazine though.

4
Brotherauron1•

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVFzZdp0wVo

3
htruong•

Thanks for this. I went on the defcad site after I had posted, and noticed their printed working mag (same as in that youtube link). I wasn't able to view it in its entirety (at work), but did they mention the material used? Saw the comments, but nothing was stated.

1
Brotherauron1•

I don't remember it being mentioned in the interview, maybe its on the specs?

1
dwkfym•

All plastic that would go in a gun is polymer, but not all polymers are plastic.

1
Brotherauron1•

I posted the video in my other comment, I thought that is what he said but I could be wrong. either way it does exist.

1
overgrown•

The defense distributed site has some video, photos, and a bit of narrative as they go through the testing process. On the lower there were a series of failures iirc, most detrimentally to the point where the barrel threads in, and the mags need some carving to keep from jamming. My first thought was despite the physical limitations of the printed original, all of the tolerances are right for making a mold last and casting from any other material. Like solid gold, for instance.

I find this fascinating for a number of reasons, especially the odd places where law and materials science converge. For instance, could it be argued that reprap gun parts are protected by the first amendment as well as the second?

2
FonsBandvsiae•

For instance, could it be argued that reprap gun parts are protected by the first amendment as well as the second?

I think it would be files protected by the first, and parts protected by the second. I would not be surprised to see attempts to pass laws specifically targeting 3D printed weapon parts.

0
chunky_bacon•

Give it a shot. I have some experience with 3D printing, but I haven't tried a magazine yet. My guess is that it might work for a short period, but I'm pretty certain it will have a shorter life than any of the commercial units. I further anticipate that it will break at the top rear, cracking horizontally.

2
afosterw•

I think you would be far better off looking at milling a receiver and or researching methods to press sheet metal or traditional plastic molding technology. Current DIY grade 3d printing is not suitable for anything more than novelty. There are some industrial 3D printers that do metal but the cost is very prohibitive.

Current 3D printers are neat but essentially useless for most real applications. It's a materials science problem not a printer problem. If you want to make your own guns and mags look at the AK. You can stamp, cut and bend your own flats way easier, cheaper and faster than you could ever print an AR-15 lower. And the AK will actually work! Same with mags. You could mill a mold for plastic, bondo whatever and spit out strong useable mags way faster than you could print them.

2
2wheeljunkie•

MAGAZINE.

1
dnicedOP•

I've seen evidences of this controversy, but I don't fully understand what it's about. I'm assuming that clip is not the preferred word?

Edit: Googled it. Now I understand. However, I'd also like to print CLIPS for my Mosin!

2
zzorga•

Printing clips for your Mosin seems a bit silly. Just taking a hammer to some light duty metal ribbon and and form seems more practical.

2
TGBambino•

Just take a hammer and tacticool reload the mosin directly!

5
notsobushy•

You might have just become my official hero of the 1pm hour on 2/7/13.

2
Scurrin•

Our FAQ also contains this information.

There have been a number of attempts of printing parts. defensedistributed.com is one such group.

1
htruong•

What you need is a DMLS system to make metal rapid prototype components :)

Like many have said, ABS and PLA are not materials you'd want to use for firearms unless they are cosmetic.

1
cbarrett1989•

Current materials are only really suitable for magazines. The material can't handle the stress exerted. That's really it.

1
shadowmonkey1911•

All the previous attempts at lowers were made with weaker polymers, some of the newer printers can use nylon 6 now ( the glock blend is based on this). Still probably won't work for a lower because its printed and not injection molded but I think it would certainly viable for other fun parts. I know for a fact someone made a working 5rd 5.56 mag out of abs and put it on a 3d printer wiki

1
amcdermott20•

IIRC the lower that kid made shook itself apart after a few rounds of .22LR.

1
ManWhoStaresAtCats•

those kinds of plastics are not rigid enough to handle firearms anything..

0
debello64•

There was just an episode of CSI: New York that just covered this basic topic. The plastics that are used in current printers will not hold up to the pressures that are created when a shot is fired.

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