The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Can only be a bad thing!

Nothing new there: we've had 4 such machines in service in our lab for nigh on 4 years oomans. And on the contrary, they are a very good thing if used correctly.

Wasn't the problem with printed guns that they were plastic and thus could evade all security measures?

I rather suspect that it will require no more skill to build a gun in metal starting with a lathe and milling machine than it will with a computer and laser sintering machine. Gadgets like that are not plug-and-play in the normally understood sense.

No, the plastic guns weren't invisible to security. The problem with them was that it was a story too good to report factually and rationally.

Yes, the LMD (Laser Metal Deposition) systems can build viable firearms. So can anyone with a modicum of talent and access to a lathe, a forr of steel tube and a spring. The IRA turned out several hundred Sten guns of better quality than the WW2 production, and at far less cost than a LMD system

Sintered materials have been used in weapons for many years - so nothing really new.

Given the stresses that part of a handgun face this goes to further prove how effective the process is and can also be used for other very high tolerance components.

meles meles wrote:No, the plastic guns weren't invisible to security. The problem with them was that it was a story too good to report factually and rationally.

Yes, the LMD (Laser Metal Deposition) systems can build viable firearms. So can anyone with a modicum of talent and access to a lathe, a forr of steel tube and a spring. The IRA turned out several hundred Sten guns of better quality than the WW2 production, and at far less cost than a LMD system

I have handled a couple of the IRA sten guns waveirishflag

Both sides were making guns. Below some loyalist home made machine guns.

The sten gun model was designed to be built in small workshops. As such, any person with access to a lathe / CNC / Tig Welder and associated skills in a small workshop shouldn't really have too much trouble churning these things out.
I've handled a deactivated model and looking at it, albeit not with an engineer's eye, there didn't seem to be too much work in it.

Mezzer

Considering Singer made them in Clydebank during the war instead of sewing machines you are probably right. I fired one a couple of times, heavy uncomfy and probably the Brit equivalent of an AK at the time.