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ATF Tests Show 3D Printed Guns Can Explode

Posted by timothy on from the atf-vs-the-people dept.

Lucas123 writes "The ATF has been testing 3D printed guns over the past year and, not surprisingly, has found that depending on the thermoplastics, 3D printers and CAD designs used, some can explode on the first attempt to shoot them. The ATF published videos this week of the tests on YouTube showing what looked like a Liberator model of a 3D gun exploding upon being fired. Another model, created with the popular ABS polymer and an advanced printer, could fire as many as 8 shots. The tests were published at a time when a law passed in 1988 banning the sale of guns made entirely of plastic is set to expire next month." I hope they post the videos when they do the same tests on Solid Concepts' 1911.

7 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. do tell by turkeydance · · Score: 5, Insightful

    metal guns explode, too.

    1. Re:do tell by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is this the same federal govt that developed movies and campaigns saying that smoking pot would cause you to go insane, kill and rape people?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re:do tell by Bill_the_Engineer · · Score: 4, Interesting

      LOL. Seriously though, "Reefer Madness" was financed by a church group.

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      These comments are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my employer or colleagues...
  2. Coming soon - 3D printable everything by Press2ToContinue · · Score: 4, Funny

    Once they have these minor inconveniences ironed out I look forward to printing my own hand grenades, flame-throwers, rocket-launchers, heat-seeking missiles, and battalion of robo-troops to deploy them on my 3D-printed floating island in the pacific.

    Dammit - printer jam. brb

    --
    Sent from my ENIAC
  3. of course their demo exploded by Gothmolly · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So they can show that 3d printed guns are bad and should be outlawed.

    WTF, how is this even news?

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    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  4. So no new laws then by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Funny

    It looks then like we don't need to pass any laws around 3D printing of guns, since according to the feds it's a self-correcting problem.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  5. Not often by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you have a properly made gun, it takes a pretty bad malfunction to explode, and then usually they don't actually explode in any normal sense of the word, they just distend and crack. Guns are made to be reliable, since the agencies that buy them tend to value that.