[hackerspaces] printablegun.com has it's 3d printer siezed

[Yves Quemener]

It is pretty obvious for anyone who has given 3D printing a bit of thought
that people would print weapons at one moment. While we knew this was
inevitable, I hoped it to happen as late as possible. We all know what will
happen once the first crime will be done with a 3d printed weapon : the
legalosaurus will look out way and will try to shoot random legislation at
a field that is, for now, relatively unencumbered.

I am not even sure that I have a moral opinion on the availability of gun
CAD files, but I have a pragmatic advice : don't do it now, the current
state of the tech makes it useless and it will slow the whole field.

I also have the feeling that the person behind printablegun.com was less
about making a working firearm than making buzz around the project. I
suspect that this event is exactly what was supposed to happen.

On 02/10/12 10:50, Bryce Tugwell wrote:
> For better or for worse, Printablegun.com who was/is working on creating a
> (hand)gun printable on a 3d printer, has had its printer (which evidently
> was leased(?)) confiscated "before they even got it out of the box" by the
> company that made the printer (Stratasys). Evidently printablegun.com
> <http://printablegun.com> did a kickstarter style fundraiser, raised
> $20,000 and "leased" the printer (would love to know if they actually
> leased it, or if this is the action of a company that is moving on a end
> user licence agreement...) In any case they showed up at the guys house and
> took the printer away before it was ever plugged in. (i won't insert my
> opinion on this right away, I am interested in hearing yours!) 
> 
> Discuss?
> 
> I am sure there are some lively opinions on this, and I am all ears, I
> would love to hear thoughs. 
> 
> 
> Also, I am about to post a huge load of photos (well over a thousand) of
> the Iron pour I attended and participated in this weekend to flickr, I will
> send out a link when the upload is complete. I made a nice cast iron paella
> pan that turned out great! I can't wait to do another casting. Interested
> parties are welcome to join in, but in the future will need to let me know
> well enough in advance to go over some fairly important safety information
> in advance. 
> 
> Also, those interested in making a cast iron piece should let me know - I
> can arrange it if far enough in advance. 
> 
> 
> FYI bronze and aluminium castings opportunities coming in the future as well. 
> 
> Bryce
> 
> 
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