Oct.2, 2012

Inspired by a 3D printed lower receiver created by Have Blue, Cody Wilson, director of Defense Distributed, launched Wiki Weapon project and managed to raise $20,000 in BitCoins. This fund allowed him to lease a Stratasys professional 3D printer to make and test 3D printed weapons.

Stratasys, the 3D printer manufacturer, obviously didn't like the idea. They canceled the lease and seized the printer from the home of Cody Wilson. Stratasys's legal counsel said in their letter: "It is the policy of Stratasys not to knowingly allow its printers to be used for illegal purposes. Therefore, please be advised that your lease of the Stratasys uPrint SE is cancelled at this time and Stratasys is making arrangements to pick up the printer."

In US it is legal to build weapons at home but you can not sell it without a license firearms. But another law, the Undetectable Firearms Act says the creation or sale of weapons would be illegal regardless of how it was made.

Wired reports:

The Wiki Weapon project aimed to allow anyone to download the open source blueprints and build weapons at home. Stratasys' statement says, ""Stratasys reserves the right to reject an order. Members of Defense Distributed, like any U.S. citizens, are able to follow the well-established federal and state regulations to manufacture, distribute or procure a firearm in this country."

 

Until Stratasys pulled the lease, the Wiki Weapon project intended to make a fully 3-D printed pistol for the first time, though it would likely be capable of only firing a single shot until the barrel melted. Still, that would go further than the partly plastic AR-15 rifle produced by blogger and gunsmith Michael Guslick. Also known as "Have Blue," Guslick became an online sensation after he made a working rifle by printing a lower receiver and combining it with off-the-shelf metal parts.

But last Wednesday, less than a week after receiving the printer, Wilson received an e-mail from Stratasys: The company wanted its printer returned. Wilson wrote back, and said he believed using the printer to manufacture a firearm would not break federal laws regarding at-home weapons manufacturing. For one, the gun wouldn't be for sale. Wilson added that he didn't have a firearms manufacturers license.

As of now, the Defense Distributed group is working on getting such a license. "You Can't Stop What's Coming." says the group on their blog.

 

Posted in 3D Printing Companies

 

 

 

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darth wrote at 10/4/2012 3:51:52 AM:

Lease it under false name and then skeddaddle. What's so hard LOL

Tom Howard wrote at 10/2/2012 12:56:48 PM:

Should of just bought a RepRap

qppddb wrote at 10/2/2012 7:29:22 AM:

Kinda saw this coming... Especially after that video they created explaining it..



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