ATF Tests Show 3D Printed Guns Can Explode

Lucas123 writes "The ATF has been testing 3D printed guns over the past year and, not surprisingly, has found that depending on the thermoplastics, 3D printers and CAD designs used, some can explode on the first attempt to shoot them. The ATF published videos this week of the tests on YouTube showing what looked like a Liberator model of a 3D gun exploding upon being fired. Another model, created with the popular ABS polymer and an advanced printer, could fire as many as 8 shots. The tests were published at a time when a law passed in 1988 banning the sale of guns made entirely of plastic is set to expire next month." I hope they post the videos when they do the same tests on Solid Concepts' 1911.

Entirely Appropriate

[hedgemage]

I think its entirely appropriate for government to determine safety standards and inform the citizenry when something doesn't comply. With the manufacturing of /everything/ by 3D printers, the vast majority of the populace has no way to determine which designs are safe and stable and which are junk because most of them are not engineers or materials scientists. I think that testing and rating designs for potentially dangerous items, not just firearms, that could cause grievous harm due to catastrophic failure is good role for government to act in the common good.

Keep the designs free for all, but provide a central database where I can reference a rating performed by experts. I wouldn't mind my tax dollars going for that.

3d printers, A tool with bad press

[GoodNewsJimDotCom]

I can think of many tools that if used wrong can kill.

3d printers just get bad press because manufacturing is afraid of losing out on money.

Anything that is new will get bad press if people will lose money.

Examples: MPAA/RIAA hated the Internet for sharing songs. So they sued grandmothers for millions and won.
Cable companies are afraid they'll give you too much bandwith and never pay for TV again. So they restrict usages like jerks.
Newspaper is worried that free online newspaper will put them out of buisness. So Murdoc makes threatening claims.
Petroleum giants are afraid of the electric car, so anything something slightly goes wrong with a Tesla, it makes press.
Energy Utilities are afraid of solar, so solar gets all sorts of negative press that it will never fly or be a solution.
It just goes on and on. People with money are afraid of losing their cash cows, so instead of doing what's good for society, they do whats best for themselves. And part of the equation today is,"You can only get away with so much in USA politics. If you can't make a bull shit propoganda story why something is bad for society, people won't elect the crook next cycle." And really, that is about the only thing that keeps the USA from going from suck to blow. So any time someone paints a bullshit propoganda story to you, be a good citizen and dismantle it.

Re:do tell

[Bill_the_Engineer]

LOL. Seriously though, "Reefer Madness" was financed by a church group.