Most 3d printed guns are constructed very similarly to "real" commercially available (in burgerland) guns that use a polymer construction. The plastic is taking very little of the force, they use metal inserts and rails that the mechanical parts connect to. This distributes the load a lot. I haven't printed any yet, mostly because you basically need to buy a whole gun to build one, but they aren't magic or anything and you could do the same thing with woodworking tools by hand if you had a lot of patience.

[–] SARGE@startrek.website 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The most reliable one I have uses an AR style fire control group, and large metal pieces for the bolt, and pre-hardened hydraulic tubing for the barrel.

There's plenty of metal in it, all held together via 3d printed parts and frame

The only things I needed to buy that I would consider "from a firearm" or "from a gun store" would be the fire control group. Everything else was bought from McMaster Carr or local hardware stores.

Spot on with the woodworking. I've made a couple stocks for my grandfather's old broken long rifles. It's just more time consuming. (also my 3d printer isn't that long)

[–] flying_mechanic@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

I was mostly thinking of the handgun builds I've seen with hand made slide rails but the rest is just a Glock(or whatever else base gun) parts kit for everything else.

[–] cows_are_underrated@feddit.org 2 points 4 days ago

Ah, that makes sense.

[–] evidences@lemmy.world 18 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Yeah 3d printed gun is such a misnomer for most of the "ghost guns", the gun he had was just the printed frame. That section of the 3d printing community isn't really my scene but that seems to be what I've seen for all the printed guns, lower/frame with barrel and trigger assembly being metal pieces. I think years ago I saw a modern reinterpreting of the WW2 Liberator that was done in all plastic but that's obviously designed to shoot only once.

I'm sure you know more about the scene than I do and can correct or verify my knowledge.

[–] SARGE@startrek.website 9 points 4 days ago

The ones I have use 3d printed frames, the fire control group and barrels are metal with 3d printed pieces for making the rifling.

All the parts that take repeated heavy abuse are reinforced with extra thickness or different infil, but by weight I'd say it's about 50/50 metal/plastic.

The 3d printed lowers are quite basic, and since they aren't designed to take a ton of stress anyway, it's not really hard to find a decent design.

All my parts are printed in pla+, and I do minimal work afterwards to make things perfect, only what is necessary for the mechanical parts to cycle properly.

I actually haven't been keeping up the last few years, I wouldn't be surprised if there are even better methods than the ones I've used.

[–] TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

To add on to what you said, only the lower recievers for most guns have to be registered. Someone could hypothetically get every other upper part for a pistol or rifle delivered directly to their door or PO box with no questions asked, and then just hypothetically 3d print the lower reciever.

[–] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Yeah, the early 3D printed guns were garbage, but modern ones are much more durable. Changes in design have allowed for the use of off-the-shelf parts for the most important moving pieces, which means you have the durability of those off-the-shelf parts instead. The 3D print is basically just holding the machined parts together.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 4 days ago

it's not like homemade guns are a new thing, it's just that now we can make them not look like pipe guns from fallout 4

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 5 points 4 days ago

Yeah but people don't consider printing a handle to be a "3d printed gun" unless you're trying to ban their existence entirely.

[–] glizzyguzzler@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Based O’Brien would engineer a thousand-round 3D printed gun while the federation’s ATF just weeps in a corner

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 days ago

500 cigarettes

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago (2 children)

That's awesome and also kind of scary.

[–] Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

What if I told you about “80% receivers” and parts kits that have been in use for decades by hobbyists?

Individuals who make their own firearms may use a 3D printing process or any other process, as long as the firearm is “detectable” as defined in the Gun Control Act. You do not have to add a serial number or register the [privately made firearm] if you are not engaged in the business of making firearms for livelihood or profit.

“80% receivers” are a weird line in the sand to pick between “random hunk of metal/plastic” and “yeah that’s a gun bro” but words have meaning that (still) have to be defined in law, and you can build a 100%* factory looking gun with zero 3D printed parts and no serial number.

*Depends on your skill with tools and machinery ofc, but can be done with a hand drill and a basic file with enough patience

[–] brown567@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

There's a whole community for it! There's a YouTube channel called "Print, Shoot, Repeat" that actually talks about the gun police showed

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Cool! I'm not into firearms gives them some other appeal. I'm gonna check that out.

[–] brown567@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

I was coming here to say this, I have an (unfinished) semi-auto 9mm carbine and its only part from a real gun is a barrel from a Glock because I didn't feel like making my own XD