Markforged, a 3D printer manufacturer based in Boston, has just announced two new models — the X3 and the X5. Both of these printers are designed to create carbon fiber-infused objects using a standard filament printing system and both can produce items that can replace or are stronger than steel objects.
Both printers have auto-leveling and scanning systems to ensure each printed object is exactly like every other. Further, the printers use Markforged’s special thermoplastic fiber filament, while the X5 can add a “strand of continuous fiberglass” to create objects “19X stronger and 10X stiffer than traditional plastics.” This means you can print both usable parts and usable tools using the same machine and, thanks to the fiberglass weave, you can ensure that the piece won’t snap on use. For example, one customer printed a custom valve wrench in 10 minutes using one of these printers.
The big question is can you make functional barrels for handguns, and what calibers/pressures could they handle?
Theoretically, if everyone were to be making their own guns, interstate transportation would no longer be grounds for federal control. Of course the courts do not always see things the way they should be.
Either way, this could be must-have Apocalypse tech, depending on how well it works, and how easily you can get the building materials. Not only could you be more self-sufficient. You could also end up the go-to source for your community for everything from tools to critical machine parts. That spells profit.
Tell others about r/K Theory, because with guns, these are K-strategist lives we are talking about
In the UK (and I suppose, in most other countries too) really high definition photocopiers are controlled. They can be used to photocopy banknotes so the Government has decided that you need a special license from the powers that be to own one.
I can see a similar situation with this type of 3D printer if it becomes too useful and out of the control of the State.
Their technology has a few problems, and chief among them is a massive patent that will probably be renewed to the max length of time. Their machines cost right in there with a Korean economy car and they AREN’T capable of things like gun barrels and critical machine parts. This tech is really good for certain things, but the things you mentioned still require not only metal, but in each application different metals with different properties that have to be conventionally machined.
I’ve been working on a data package for some time now that would allow for a small scale workshop to produce every part of an AR18/Leader Dynamics T2 based rifle, and to do so from scrapping cars for the raw materials. That data package will also include how to make every part of the ammunition AND plans for the machines required. I’m one man, but hope to be in a financial position next year to actually make physical progress on all of this.
Now THAT sounds amazing.
The idea is to put together all the data for one easily built sheet steel based 5.56 rifle in one zip file. Everything, drawings, 3D models, heat treat, recipe for small amounts of smokeless powder, methodology for melting down high quality automotive steels and forging the ingots into usable stock, making springs, grinding chamber reamers, a cut rifling machine to drill and rifle barrels, loading presses – ALL of it to produce a standard infantry rifle with consistent ammunition that could be manufactured in a decentralized manner and conceivably get a man through a war. And then let it loose on the internet. Maybe add a handgun, something based off a Glock19.
The most effective form of gun control is not any law, it’s the barrier of entry to manufacturing. The absolute BEST 3D metal printing out there right now can NOT handle the chamber pressures needed for dealing with even a 5.56. The best they can do is a 1911 in .45ACP. And the machine costs six figures on up depending on your options.
But a person with access to raw steels, a junkyard, and lots of time can actually defeat all the gun control laws IF he has the step by step for how to MAKE everything needed.
Here’s an overview of the rifle in question. The simplicity of manufacture of this thing is an engineering marvel and makes my whole plan possible:
Forgotten Weapons: Leader Dynamics T2 Mk V rifle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hmJXqHoxac
Leader T2 & Ballester Molina at the 2-Gun Action Challenge Match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfeTsE4EDaM
That is just awesome. I hope you make a mint off the project.
It makes me wonder how long until we have warships and submarines made with the stuff.
It is not the wood, it is the supply of fasteners.
It is not the razor, it is always the supply of blades.
It will not be the printer, it will be the supply of the fibers.
I have the opinion that if things were to become really bad, the feedstock required to run these machines would become Unobtainium.
It’s a shame really. These 3D printers, if developed enough, could become the driving force behind a new Industrial Revolution. We may have to wait until after the apocalypse to see it come to fruition unfortunately. That is, if we don’t forget that tech.
Look at this. It’s called Supersonic Particle Deposition. Metal powder is sprayed so fast that the metal hits and fuses into a solid. I looked at this a little and best I can tell the US military invented it. They are using it now to repair metal parts on aircraft. Grind out the corroded or cracked section and blow metal in the area to fill. Like high speed welding. This can be used with all kinds of material. Steel, titanium, Ceramic mixes, etc. The guys in the video are going after the auto parts market. Imagine that you could print any kind of water pump by just changing a computer file. Maybe a slight bit of machining on the surfaces and the bearing surfaces that can be automated and part of the programming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcWdCGbq1aA
Say you wanted a rifle. Make a thin shell of steel and blow the rest of the metal on. Example. The barrel would be a machined rod with the chamber and rifling machined into the rod. It could use H&K octagonal rifling. Wrap with a tape of thin metal on the mold(empty section of the barrel made into a mold) then blow the rest of the barrel material on. Remove rod mold. You could even make the trunnion and locking lugs out of a shell of metal. Thread the barrel mold into the the trunnion and locking lug mold, then wrap the whole thing with metal tape, blow the whole barrel, trunnion and locking lugs in one step. Be interesting to make barrels out of the same type steel as they use in bulldozer blades. It would be a super thin section so it wouldn’t be so costly but it would be super heat and wear resistant. Blow low cost steel on top of this and if you really wanted to be fancy then you could us a lighter coating of aluminum for easy finishing and corrosion resistance when treated.
Here’s another company also gunning for the auto parts market. They have two systems one shown in the next video that free standing prints parts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=momnO2xc7qo
The second for high volume is like traditional metal printing but they don’t weld the material with lasers. They spray a binder that holds the powders together then they sinister(heat up and melt together) the parts. This will appeal to auto manufacturers because that’s how most parts are made now. The difference is they have to made a mold and inject the powders into the mold, then sinister. With this you high speed print and then sinister. They’re talking exact same parts price but no mold and with the ability to immediately change what parts are made with just software.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pk7Mq7ESwI
I hope that tech matures before the collapse. This r period has done damage, but the money blown at R&D has produced some amazing stuff.
“…The big question is can you make functional barrels for handguns, and what calibers/pressures could they handle?…”
Forgot. That particular tech you linked will NOT make barrels. It’s as strong as steel in bulk, per weight but the surface doesn’t have the hardness or strength of steel. As you can see others can. DIY plastic printing is easy now. DIY metal printing will be the next big thing. It will be slow but fairly cheap. For a DIY waiting a week for a barrel to finish will be no big deal. You could actually print every single part of the gun in one pass then bolt the parts together.
The late post where I talked about blowing metal powder. I said mold. I had senior moment and couldn’t think of the right word. It’s negative mold actually called a mandrel.
I want to follow up on the Supersonic Particle Deposition also called Cold Spray Process.
1. The process makes super strong parts as the strength is said to be the same as “wrought”. What this means is worked metal. Think of it as light forging. Wrought is compressing the metal together. It makes sense as you are blasting small metal particles at a substrate so fast that they melt into each other to form a single solid part.
2. I said it was invented by the US but I was wrong it was invented by Russia in the 80’s. They used helium gasses and heated the particles. I think the US invented no heating and using really fast particles to do away with heating. No heating means stronger less stressed parts.
3. Later techniques have used air instead of helium, nitrogen or other gases raising the price. As the link showed they are blowing aluminum with air. Aluminum oxidizes fairly easy so you should be able to use a wide range of materials.
4. The range of materials is very high and they have also been using mixtures of particles. Kind of like steel and aluminum in place of epoxy in carbon fiber structures. I’m not sure they’ve done much of this.
I wonder if you couldn’t do some super strong composite stuff with this. Here’s a link to a table, towards the bottom of the page, of Specific Strength of materials. Specific strength is really the most important property of a material if your looking to use it as it’s the strength of a material PER WEIGHT. Doesn’t matter how strong something is if it weighs a ton.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_strength
So look down the table and Low Carbon Steel has a Specific strength 46.4 and CrMo Steel is only about twice that. Aluminum alloy (7075-T6) is at 204. Now look at different fibers. If you blew the Aluminum with Glass fiber 1307 or Carbon fiber (AS4) 2071 you would really have something.. I think making a really powerful air compressor would be within the talents of a really determined person. Also it could be made small and just blow very small amounts of material at a time. Slow but who cares if it’s for yourself.
5. The materials are used by the massive train cars full in the automotive industry and even if denied that you could make your own by blowing molten metal spray. through air or water.
6. I have some ideas that if you used thin sections of metal on a mandrel or die with the machined portion. Say threads or really accurate dimensional parts. You then blow material for strength on top of these dimensional parts. You might could make cheap plastic mods, electrodeposition on a covering then blow the body. Another way might be to use plastic and then coat with a clay slurry. After you blow on the metal wash off the clay.
Interesting.