I can purchase a laser sintering printer that can print 3D metal objects for a few thousand dollars. I would argue this is a low enough price point that your average person could afford it. I could also print a gun with a laser sinter, that while not as smooth and refined as a cast weapon, will still fire.
Sure, ABS plastic weapons are still somewhat laughable. What happens when you can print a metal gun in your own home with some metal powder, with a machine purchased for less than $1K?
Note: Boeing uses laser sintered parts in their new Dreamliner; this isn't just for prototyping.
I wasn't arguing that manufacturing tech turns people into murderers. I was arguing that the cost of rapid prototyping/manufacturing tech is dropping extremely rapidly, and to attempt to regulate it will be a fool's errand.
SLS fabricators don't actually produce equivalent quality to real guns. Real guns are made with precision machined metal components that are extremely strong. SLS "guns" are made with tiny bits of metal and binder fused at much lower temperatures than metal forging and thus have much weaker bonds. You can't really compare the two.
Sure, ABS plastic weapons are still somewhat laughable. What happens when you can print a metal gun in your own home with some metal powder, with a machine purchased for less than $1K?
Note: Boeing uses laser sintered parts in their new Dreamliner; this isn't just for prototyping.
EDIT: Make Magazine plans for an open source laser sintering device: http://blog.makezine.com/2012/02/01/an-open-source-laser-sin...