Mar. 27, 2015 | By Simon
Although he came out with a literal bang in 2012, Cody Wilson and the rest of his team behind Defense Distributed have been relatively quiet ever since they came out with their AR-15 rifle receiver in 2014.
The online and open source organization is focused on developing and freely publishing firearms-related 3D printable design files that can easily be downloaded and replicated by anybody with access to a 3D printer.
While the organization’s goals have been met with mixed criticism - some are clearly afraid of what this might mean if those with violent criminal records are able to bypass gun laws and create their own firearms while others see it as the future of manufacturing whether we like it or not - there’s no denying that Wilson and Defense Distributed have helped shape at least a small part of society’s current understanding of 3D printing.
But in addition to their success and exposure with creating the world’s first 3D printed handgun (the .38-caliber Liberator) and last year’s AR-15 rifle receiver, the organization isn’t the only one who have been working on creating 3d printable firearms.
Recently, a group of gun enthusiasts with 3D printing know-how from Printed Firearm have successfully designed, 3D printed and test fired the receiver for a Colt CM109 modular battle rifle, which is a larger gun than the AR-15.
According to PrintedFirearm.com:
This is the FIRST EVER 3d Printed AR-10 (CM901/LE901) lower receiver by JT! OH YES WE DID!!!!!!! Yes people its pure awesome sauce and it has been tested, fired with little to no issues. JT and the gang continue to perfect this design and you are CRAZY not to expect MOAR AR-10 from fosscad on the reg.
The AR-10 fires the 7.62 x 51mm NATO round, which is larger and more powerful than the 5.56mm, making them far more deadly.
Due to the CM109’s larger and heavier size - and not to mention its harder kickback - the ability to add a 3D printed part and have it work effectively goes to show just how capable 3D printing is when used with high-powered firearms.
When Defense Distributed was testing their earlier concepts, many of their iterations failed due to a lack of support from the 3D printing materials. The fact that Printed Firearms was able to test 3D printed materials in a much more powerful firearm is further proof of the capabilities of 3D printing when used in high-stress applications.
Although their part could be crafted on most FDM 3D printers, the Printed Firearm team were able to produce theirs using a commercially-available Da Vinci 3D Printer - which retails for just $500.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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wow..this is awesome, I love it...how about an AK47 receiver?
piotr1600 wrote at 4/8/2015 7:25:33 AM:
It needs to be *expanded*.
NoGunzAllowd wrote at 4/3/2015 9:30:02 PM:
Only in America! This needs to be stopped!!!!!
fosscader wrote at 3/29/2015 10:35:39 AM:
This is a FOSSCAD design by JT (@fosscadJT). "Printed Firearm" has nothing to do with this design. Printed Firearm (printedfirearm.com just scraps content FOSSCAD's irc, imgur and twitter and plagiarizes, https://imgur.com/a/eufd9#0
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