Gun availability via printer - maybe!

[BDG]

Steve is making the most important point. When you think about how a gun works, making a single shot weapon from more traditional materials is no greater task than a GCSE design and technology project. The problem with the 3D printer is that these things can have programming hard wired into them to stop an action or report it.

Many laser printers on the market will not print a photocopy of a currency note. Some of them will even send an electronic notification to their company or law enforcement. I could expect the same thing in this situation. Problems could also arise when obtaining the data file. The download link may be monitored or if you were to share it on a torrent, you could be tracked that way.

Of course, you can undertake certain actions to increase you on line invisibility.

We then move on to the problem of obtaining ammunition and how this could be circumvented. This could be created at home or bought on the black market.

However, if one is wanting to venture onto the black market, one could buy a weapon there instead. I would wager it would fire more than one shot, it would cost a lot less than the £5k the chap in the article paid for the printer and you would more than likely be under less scrutiny than if you were buying a laser printer and polymers.

Just to be clear, I do not use software to hide myself online, I have not made nor do I have any intention of creating a fire arm although I do undertake in a bit of metal work and light engineering.

[Skean Dhude]

It takes a bit of skill to make something on a lathe or mill. A 3D printer will produce the same part time after time with no difference.

Some printers have the anti currency software fitted but like everything else hackers can tell you how to fix it and if you don't connect it to the internet how can if inform the Stasi what you are doing.

I don't actually see the main use for a 3D printer as producing weapons but allowing you to fix other things, make plumbing parts, etc.

[Metroyeti]

A little of subject but running with securiry questions. Ceramic knives have become extreamly popular do they contain any alloy that wiuld set a metal detector off? No doubt airports ect have come across people trying to conceal them already

[Timelord]

I would presume a ceramic knife was inherently not made of any metal. That would rule out any alloys. I stand to be corrected if anyone has knowledge on this.

[Millwall_Dave]

Apparantly in the Land of The Free any firearm sold has to be detectable by law enforcement by having at least 1 metal part.
At least they have 1 relatively sane gun law

[BDG]

(6 May 2013, 22:32)Timelord Wrote: I would presume a ceramic knife was inherently not made of any metal. That would rule out any alloys. I stand to be corrected if anyone has knowledge on this.

A lot of them are made of zirconium dioxide. Zirconium is a metal.

[Timelord]

(6 May 2013, 23:01)BDG Wrote:

(6 May 2013, 22:32)Timelord Wrote: I would presume a ceramic knife was inherently not made of any metal. That would rule out any alloys. I stand to be corrected if anyone has knowledge on this.

A lot of them are made of zirconium dioxide. Zirconium is a metal.

Thankyou for that. I learn something new. It seems the Zirconium Dioxide compound is combined with the ceramic surface as a composite material. The quote from Wikipedia is most enlightening:-

"Ceramic knives will not corrode in harsh environments, are non-magnetic, and do not conduct electricity. Because of their resistance to strong acid and caustic substances, and their ability to retain a cutting edge longer than forged metal knives, ceramic knives are a much more suitable culinary tool for slicing boneless meat, vegetables, fruit and bread. Since they are brittle they may break if dropped on a hard surface, and cannot be used for chopping through bones, or frozen foods, or in other applications which require prying, which may result in chipping or catastrophic failure. Several brands now offer a black colored blade made through an additional hot isostatic pressing (HIP) step, which improves the toughness.

Ceramic knives may present a security problem as ceramics are not seen by conventional metal detectors. To hinder misuse of concealed knives many manufacturers include some metal to ensure that they are seen by standard equipment. Ceramic knives may be detected by extremely high frequency scanners (e.g. millimeter wave scanners) and X-ray backscatter scanners"

Ta, TL

[Skean Dhude]

(6 May 2013, 19:58)Steve Wrote: I think it's all hype, making a gun is actually incredibly easy already without an $8000 printer. All you need is a pillar drill and some hand tools - total cost about £100 .

Cheque for £200 all ready here.

[Skean Dhude]

(6 May 2013, 22:53)Millwall_Dave Wrote: Apparantly in the Land of The Free any firearm sold has to be detectable by law enforcement by having at least 1 metal part.
At least they have 1 relatively sane gun law

And of course no bad guy would consider ever replacing that part.

I bet there are more 'undetectable' guns manufactured for goverment use than in the wild in any single country.

[Steve]

(7 May 2013, 12:57)Skean Dhude Wrote:

(6 May 2013, 19:58)Steve Wrote: I think it's all hype, making a gun is actually incredibly easy already without an $8000 printer. All you need is a pillar drill and some hand tools - total cost about £100 .

Cheque for £200 all ready here.

Best have a look around:

https://www.apexauctions.co.uk/auction/home.htm