Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

UK Police Seize 3D-Printed 'Gun Parts,' Which Are Actually Spare Printer Parts

Posted by Soulskill on from the well-played-boys dept.

nk497 writes "Police in Manchester have arrested a man and seized what they claim are 3D printed components to a gun. They made the arrest after a 'significant' discovery of a 3D printed 'trigger' and 'magazine,' saying they were now testing the parts to see if they were viable. 3D printing experts, however, said the objects were actually spare parts for the printer. 'As soon as I saw the picture... I instantly thought, "I know that part,"' said Scott Crawford, head of 3D printing firm Revolv3D. 'They designed an upgrade for the printer soon after it was launched, and most people will have downloaded and upgraded this part within their printer. It basically pulls the plastic filament, and it used to jam an awful lot. The new system that they've put out, which includes that little lever that they're claiming is the trigger, is most definitely the same part.'"

8 of 279 comments (clear)

  1. over-reaction? by Custard+Horse · · Score: 5, Funny

    FTFA: "The man was also arrested on suspicion of making gunpowder"

    He was probably making coffee...

    1. Re:over-reaction? by RDW · · Score: 4, Funny

      This is England, so it was probably tea. It's an easy mistake to make:

      http://www.whittard.co.uk/tea/type/green-tea/gunpowder-tea

    2. Re:over-reaction? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

      So if you try to grow it yourself, does that mean that you have your own small gunpowder plot in the backyard?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  2. Speaking as a Brit by sa1lnr · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love that the Greater Manchester Police site has suffered the curse of slashdot. :)

    1. Re:Speaking as a Brit by daremonai · · Score: 5, Funny

      If this is what the Greater Manchester Police are like, I'd hate to meet up with the Lesser ones.

  3. Re:Kudos to the police for realizing... by Zemran · · Score: 4, Funny

    You need special glasses to fire a 3D gun and only people wearing those glasses can get shot by one.

    --
    I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
  4. Re:Oh god by tmosley · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was about to make a comment about how modern music is garbage, and that people only download the stuff made a long time ago and probably that they already owned at some point, but then I realized that there are a bunch of damn kids on my lawn again.

  5. Re:smug retribution by qbast · · Score: 4, Funny

    Clearly the only answer is 'more guns'. If other 14 years olds (hell, why not start at 8 years?) all were carrying, this tragedy could be avoided.