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Wiki-Weapons Project Shows 3D-Printed Gun Part Can Withstand 600 Rounds

Feb. 27, 2013 1:18pm Liz Klimas

Defense Distributed, which is heading up the Wiki-Weapons project to create a 3D printable gun design, is continuing its tests of its 3D-printed lower portion of an AR-15. As the group has stated on its website, it wants to make sure the pieces will be able to hold up to stress.

And that’s exactly what this latest test was about — more than 600 rounds worth of stress.

Defense Distributed Wiki Weapons Project Fires 600 Rounds With 3D Printed AR 15 Lower

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

How did the plastic piece do? Let’s put it this way: it seems that the shooter’s thumb tires faster that the plastic piece, which is saying something given that one of the group’s first printed piece broke after six rounds.

3D-printed piece doesn’t appear to have been damage from 600 rounds. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Watch how the 3D-printed lower of the gun holds up for more than 600 rounds:

In addition to this piece, Defense Distributed has shown on its blog that it has also perfected its 3D-printed magazine.

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Related:

(H/T: Popular Science)

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Comments (55)

PaulConley
Posted on March 3, 2013 at 1:53am
Great sound effects, and the pro-type works too!

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dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 2:23pm
very non-ideal but in a pinch it’s better than nothing. print me the whole enchilada and the ammo and i’m interested.

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- KevINtampa
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:26pm
  Consider this though, lower receiver is the part that is serialed and requires FFL transfer. You can purchase an upper receiver and have it delivered directly to your house or anonymous PO Box, and then print your own lower receiver and your weapon will be completely off the books…and no background check…big brother would have no record of it when he comes to confiscate your property.
  
  When it wears out, just swap the lower with a spare. Takes two minutes. Rinse and repeat firearms are here.
  
  Report this comment
SanDiegoCountyCitizen
Posted on February 28, 2013 at 10:10am
Or, I could make one out of 7075 Aluminum in my garage for FAR less then the cost of the printer’s output, and it will last 20,000 plus rounds… hm…

This is really just a covert way to get congress and the BATF to pass laws preventing law abiding citizen from making their own firearms and/or requiring them to put serial numbers on them and register them. MARK MY WORDS! Get on those 80% builds NOW, before it becomes a Federal Offense to do so.

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- KevINtampa
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:48pm
  But could you manufacture three dozen aluminum bodied receivers every day?
  
  You could print these lowers for your neighbors and easily sell them for $30 a piece. In the right neighborhood you would likely pay off the printer in a weeks time.Each neighbor would probably buy 3 or 4. Because they work on a standard .22lr upper, it would be nice to have a few just as a spare if something breaks in your primary lower.
  
  Pretty cool if you ask me.
  
  Every single one of us has a God given right to firearms, this technology is providing people access to firearms. If someone wants to ban guns, fine. Those who choose to be free will be persecuted as they always have been; but they will be free. Freedom will always be a choice, regardless of what laws are.
  
  Report this comment
Wingnut1800
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:50pm
Can it print money like the fed does?

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Wingnut1800
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:42pm
Can it print money just like the fed does?

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thejackal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:59pm
I could care less about guns… And I have an arsenal. I could take out a hundred armed progressives with a small kitchen knife and my bad ass self. These people are weak, undisciplined filth. They can and will be easily subdued when the SHTF. WEAK!

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wilbstal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:13pm
could probably take 30 days to milll and machine out a working gun, but only have a smooth bore barrel with no rifling. But will kill just as good in close ranges

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wilbstal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:10pm
this is good we will always have guns black market great news we can still shoot the Dirty Communist bastards

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- simpletony
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 6:14pm
  I think you may have meant muslim bastards; the russians don’t seem so dangerous now
  
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- FreedbyTruth
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 7:41pm
  I think the commies being referred to are here in the US.
  
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DefyTYRANNY
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 6:09pm
They just substantially thickened the failure area to the top rear of the part. There is actually a 3D printer material that uses stainless steel dust. The problem, however, is the resin that binds the material. A high strength epoxy would be a better carrier, but there would likely be problems with hardening within the passages of the printer unit.

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- Norm D. Plume
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:38pm
  Laser sintering would be better yet.
  
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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:45pm
So who wants to be the one to shoot the 600th round?

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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:44pm
and I should be impressed?

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MassCitizen
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:43pm
When can we use these to replace woman,,, that’s all I want to know!!!
we would not need guns if we could do that!

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- KevINtampa
  Posted on February 28, 2013 at 5:39pm
  Not sure what precisely your getting at here, but…
  
  If you want a plastic woman just move to LA where they are a dime for a dozen. I’ve heard that recently they’ve been going as low as a nickel for a baker’s dozen, probably due to the economy and over supply.
  
  Report this comment
CommonSenseTalk
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:01pm
Why can’t Americans just buy parts from American companies? I don’t care how they are made.

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- Quagaar Warrior
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:34pm
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  If I’m going to defend myself, I want to know for sure that my gun won’t fail.
  I don’t want to take a chance on my gun parts being Union-Made!
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  Report this comment
Afungi
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 3:41pm
What I would really like is a ruger carbine that shoots a 9mm with a interchangeable .40 cal clip & barrel. Or just as good a carbine that uses a glock barrel and clip. The heavier pistol rounds are very effective.

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- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 6:06pm
  Google Just Right carbine. It accepts standard Glock magazines and has AR-15 spec buffer tube and grip. Therefore you can use either Magpul grips and stock, or Even a Slidefire Solutions SSAR-15 SBS unit to give you the equivalent to full auto capability (Legally, with no NFA restrictions.)
  
  Youtube Just Right 9MM Slidefire to see that setup in action.
  
  Report this comment
monticellomatthew
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:35pm
Let’s see: about three months ago, their 3D printed frame breaks after 6 rounds; now it survives 600+. It’s no guarantee that it will happen this fast, but, “wargaming” for a sec, at the rate of a hundredfold increase per three months (I’m just simplifying the numbers here), in another three months the frame should be able to withstand 60,000 rounds, then 6,000,000 rounds, etc…
Thank You, Singularity.

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- Mojoron
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:44pm
  That is not a high stress piece. If you print an operating rod or a barrel then your talking.
  
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- Afungi
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 3:27pm
  In a glock there is few steel parts. A cheap repair kite and barrel a gun as good as a new factory model.
  
  Report this comment
- Vincero
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 4:47pm
  @Mojo. I believe the point is to print the piece that normally requires an FFL involved in the purchase. You can make your own receivers at home – IF you can use machine equipment. This is legal as long as you don’t sell it. But to be able to download software for any firearm’s receiver and print one in your bedroom means anyone can assemble an AR.
  
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BlackCrow
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:20pm
Any body else notice the third pin in the lower?

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- Shootist
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:41pm
  Yep !!
  That’s for the Auto-Sear to make it select fire….
  
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- BlackCrow
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 3:09pm
  It’s in the wrong place for an auto sear. The auto sear pin goes directly over the safety. The last lower broke right at the buffer tube. Some sort of steel reinforcement in that weak point?
  
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HOOT_OWL
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:43pm
Well, the only reason I can understand behind running the progress of this story. Is to expedite the government to form regulations on these types of printers. What’s up with that blaze.? Maybe I’m just a little paranoid .But it appears to me the blaze might not be as pro-second amendment as they may let on. Or just ‘certain’ people or certain regulation. Or who knows anymore.

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- Jim S
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:28pm
  ..a coffee can, heavy gauge wire and a press…I can make magazines all day…just in case you don’t want to buy a $15,000 3D “printer”…which might have some software outlawed which leaves you with a Lego machine…thanks for the info anyway…
  
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- HOOT_OWL
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:16pm
  Jim S
  Yes ,yes Just the other day I was using my hand drill that also doubles as my lathe and was turning down the end of a scope , then I took a old wood router with a arrow flint to cut the dovetail, so I mounted it on a old sausage grinder .When I realized dinner was burning so I opened the hood to my ford pick-up and lowered the idle and flipped the burgers . But then as I was closing the hood I noticed my stack of coffee cans and said ..I need to stamp out about a dozen or so Mags on the press.. pft..
  
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- Protege
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:32pm
  In defense of Jim S:
  
  the coffee can magazines have been around since the early 60′s. My grandfather showed me how to make them. And if you don’t have a press or a stamp, there are other methods to use. Never knock a man’s knowledge simply because you don’t possess that same knowledge. Many military members learned this procedure in Germany, where the Liberal government was batty about letting US servicemen that were protecting them carry large magazines for their rifles. Of course, the original M-16 A1 came into service and these coffee can mags were no longer needed. But you would be amazed at human ingenuity when the rubber meets the road. :D
  
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- coffeecanmagazines
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 1:02am
  @Jim S: Please tell us where we can get more info on coffee can magazines.
  
  Report this comment
wilbstal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:41pm
600 rounds herse the answer to kill hoards of Home attackers great I want 100 of these guns

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- Jim S
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:33pm
  ..remember you need 30 round magazines to kill at least 30 cops when they come for your 30 round magazine…if you have 10 round magazines you can only kill 10 cops, reload and kill 10 more..see how it works?…it’s logical ..circular…but logical…
  
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shin
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:36pm
I remember this video. Still, the barrel is made of metal and 3D printing in metal costs as much as a new house, not to mention the way 3d printed metal is made, it can’t support the pressures of an explosive standard for firearms. The Cheaper 3D printers are $1300, as much as a new AR-15 or used AK-47. It’s good that these things can be made, but we are years if not decades away from domestic 3D metal printing that can duplicate barrels.

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- Rogue
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Here’s the thing about a lower you can make on your own – the lower is the only part of an AR considered to be a weapon. When you fill out a background check to purchase an AR, it is because you are buying the lower.
  
  Anyone can buy the rest of the parts for an AR with no background check required, and can have all the products shipped directly to them or better yet, buy for cash at a local store. If you can make your own lower, you can make your own rifle without any sort of paper trail.
  
  Who knows – they may find a more economical and stronger material to form these lowers out of eventually. Should an AWB go into effect again, the lowers are what you will not be able to get.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:09pm
  Maybe we need to design a weapon that can easily change out receivers, just like magazines. When the receiver cracks, just click, snap, latch a new one into place in seconds. Then all you need is to purchase the barrel. Just like in Atlas Shrugged when they were trying to use Rearden Steel to build a bridge, they said that when steel was first used for bridges they didn’t just build steel replicas of wooden bridges, they invented new bridges. A new material requires a new design.
  
  Report this comment
- mrunner
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:22pm
  @ Rogue- Thank you for that information. Truly opened my eyes on the subject.
  
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- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:37pm
  Yes absolutely correct. The lower receiver is the only piece of an AR-15 that is actually considered a firearm for legal purposes.
  
  You can legally make your own firearm. It cannot be sold however. Google 80 percent AR receiver. Most of the machining is done except the inside portion. You do not have to register these, and if you finish the part yourself there is no paper trail.
  
  One company sells 85 percent lowers I found that the magwell portion was done, and only the cavity where the trigger group, hammer, etc. goes was unfinished.
  
  Report this comment
John.Galt
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:35pm
Does the lower even get much stress?
Also, 600 rounds is not much. Show it after 6000 rounds and you will get my attention.

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- CatB
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:56pm
  Does it also print the ammo? .. without the rounds .. the gun is useless. Hence the government buying up all the ammo .. already.
  
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- Dachande
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:26pm
  That was a very expensive test with the costs of ammo lately…
  
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Indagila
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:33pm
Cool. Now can we get a second series Colt Woodsman match Target 41/2″ printed up?Thosethings are plumb out of reach of my wallet.

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Like a S&W 41 ….oh well. Ruger govt works just fine in the meantime…
  
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MDECKER
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:30pm
Might wanna save them rounds boys! The Pres just released a bunch of dangerous illegal aliens and they aren’t self-deporting because all the airports have shut down because there is no airport security. Janet Napolitano says, “you’re on your own”.

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- CatB
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:58pm
  Just what all dictators do in crisis .. clean out the prisons to keep the citizens occupied.
  
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- mrunner
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 2:41pm
  They are doing whatever they can to get this party started. In the meantime I kinda feel like we are in the pre battle scene from Braveheart where William Wallace is shouting “Hold! Hold! Hold!” Then unleashes a successful campaign on the king’s forces. Testing how far they can push before we respond. Obama should watch “Patriot” and “Braveheart”. I don’t think his tinly little community organizer brain understands our lack of response….
  
  Report this comment
- MassCitizen
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 5:40pm
  Notice they did not let out anyone doing time for Marijuana instead,,,,,
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:29pm
Great, now the progs in our one party system will 3D print an unconstitutional law banning it.

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- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:36pm
  Lol……Pretty cool and I like the 3d printing…..But there needs to be a whole lot more testing……In a country of Godless Judges, I am sure this will be outlawed.
  
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Fubared
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:25pm
Sweet. I will scratch Encinom into my first printed lower. Just spell it Encidiot as proper homage.

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- M13
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 3:22pm
  I still say if someone could 3d print stupidity, we could build ourselves an Encinom.
  
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- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:39pm
  How about “Meteor Sender”?
  
  Been quiet lately, is it Troll vacation time or something?
  
  Meh, maybe they are getting their jackboots fitted.
  
  Report this comment

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