(506) 2240-6804
3D printed revolver
The World’s First Fully 3D Printed Revolver is Here - 3DPrint.com
Mechanical engineering student James Patrick recently uploaded a video to his YouTube channel showing off the fully functional PM522 Washbear .22LR revolver that he designed and 3D printed. With the exception of the firing pin, a few elastic bands that act as springs and the legally required amount of detectable metal, the entire gun including the body and cylinder is completely 3D printed. This is, to my knowledge, the very first functional repeating firearm ever made entirely (This doesn’t count, it has metal barrel inserts) on a desktop 3D printer.
The optional 8 barrel revolver needs metal tubing inserts for each individual chamber.
The frame of the PM522 Washbear was designed to hold either a six or eight shot pepperbox revolver, however the six shot is printed in a more durable nylon material while the eight shot is printed in ABS with steel chamber liners for extra strength. Both barrels will fit in the same gun frame, so they are interchangeable. All of the stl files have been optimally orientated by Patrick in order to maximize the strength of the material and prevent failure. For instance, the gun frame is printed flat on its side while the revolver is printed standing up. By putting them together the frame is strong enough to contain the the pressure of firing and keep the cylinder layers from splitting.
In contrast, the 3D printed Liberator handgun designed by Cody Wilson holds and fires only a single bullet, and doesn’t always survive for a second shot. If what Patrick says about the PM522 Washbear is accurate, this is a significant upgrade from the Liberator, although he does warn that the gun isn’t intended for repeated usage. Patrick also suggests that subsonic ammunition is the best choice of ammo because it won’t break the sound barrier when it fires, resulting in no shock wave as the slug leaves the chamber.
Here is a brief video of the PM522 Washbear being successfully test fired:
Patrick makes it very clear that his revolver should not be printed using standard PLA material; instead he suggests all of the parts of the body be printed in ABS with 100% infill and maximum shells.
However unless chamber inserts are used, the cylinder assembly needs to be printed with nylon, as taulman 3D’s Bridge Filament was the only material that has been completely successful. When the gun is assembled, Patrick used epoxy to hold everything together and to hold the stainless steel tubing in place so his gun meets legal requirements.
There is no denying that the PM522 Washbear is quite a cleverly designed firearm that uses some unique solutions to operate the revolving barrel. Instead of springs Patrick used some elastic bands, he suggests ¼ inch dental bands, to power the guns striker, trigger, and sear. A modified roofing nail with the tip grinded flat is used as the firing pin, and the cylinder was designed so when the trigger is at rest the pin will not be in line with the bullet cartridge, making it completely drop safe.
While Patrick has been working on his 3D printed revolver for months, it was just this week that he uploaded the stl files for sharing. Considering that the PM522 Washbear 3D printed revolver is far more advanced and usable than the Liberator ever was it remains to be seen if or when the government will notice.
If you remember, the Liberator was ordered removed from the internet because the Government claimed that it violated the Arms Export Control Act, something that Wilson is currently fighting in court. How the government handles this should be interesting, and regardless of how they get involved it is certain to have ramifications for Wilson’s legal battle.
In the meantime, you can find the files for Patrick’s PM522 Washbear on his website here, for as long as they last. The stl files are included in the downloaded, as well as full printing, finishing and assembling instructions. He has also posted a five part design and assembly log that starts here.
What are your thoughts on this new 3D printed gun design? Discuss in the 3D Printed Revolver forum thread on 3DPB.com. Here is a video of Patrick explaining the design process of his PM522 Washbear:
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
Tagged with: 3d printed gun • 3D printed gun laws • 3d printed guns • 3d printed revolver • cody wilson • James Patrick • liberator • PM522 Washbear • PM522 Washbear .22LR revolver • Washbear
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Revolver best STL files for 3D printing・Cults
Revolver plate
€6
Cartoon Revolver Toy
€1
Vortex Viper HST Scope Turret Caps
Free
Galaxy Rangers Gun
€6.25
Webley MK IV 455 (FUNCTIONAL PISTOL REPLICA)
€10
Arthur Morgan
€19.01
Tiger 2/E-75/Panther/E-100 Cooling elements
€2.
99
Panther II Turret
€9.99
E-75 Radar Turret
€9.99
E-75 Vigilante 40 mm Gatling Turret
€14.99
E-75 Vigilante 40 mm Gatling
€2.99
E-100 Sideksirts
€1.99
E-100 Suspension
€1.99
Jagdpanzer E-100
€29.99
Airsoft Schofield 6 Shooter Casing LOW POWER SHELL
€6.79 -75% €1.70
Schofield Low Power Bullets
€6.79 -75% €1.
70
ARTILLERY KIT 28mm size game
€5
Printable Laser Turret
Free
Sandbags for Turrets
Free
Revolver Smith & Wesson M&P R8
€40
Smith & Wesson 686 / Magnum 357 1:1 Holster Mold
€5
E-75 Suspension
€1.99
E-75 Engine Deck
€4.99
E-75 Gas Turbine Engine Deck
€4.99
E-100 Engine Deck
€4.99
E-100 Gun Mantlet
€0.99
E-75 Gun Mantlet
€0.99
Panther F Mantlet
€0.
99
105 mm Reactive Muzzle Brake
€0.99
128 mm Reactive Muzzle Brake
€0.99
128 mm Reactive Muzzle Brake for PaK
€0.99
Fully automatic BB gun turret
Free
Zouave
€34
General Confederate States Army
€35
ACW Vivandière / Cantinière
€3.40
MAS 1873 revolver
€15
KH Heartless Grip
€1.90
Chaotic Artillery Gun
€2.38 -30% €1.
66
Chaotic Stubby Tank
€3.80 -30% €2.66
Revolver
€3.99
Night vision rifle
€3.99
Rifle with a scope
€2.99
Akatsuki grip
€2.85
Hydra Gas Turbine Exhaust
€1.99
Arachnoid sentry turret Grimdark soldiers
€1.13
Articulated Torbjörn turret
€14.99
Space Elves Vampire Fins
€2.89
torbjorn turret keychain
€0.94
3D Printed Pistol | Weapons printed on a 3D printer
With the help of 3D printing, you can make not only harmless souvenirs and trinkets.
People did not limit themselves to the necessary mechanisms and things. Legislators were seriously worried, because enterprising designers and inquisitive minds tried to print weapons. And not just a model for cosplay, but a real one, capable of firing live ammunition. But most importantly, they succeeded! Therefore, it was necessary to introduce restrictions at the legislative level for the safety of people. nine0003
Weapons were printed not only by professional devices capable of metal printing. And quite ordinary ones, printing using FDM technology. At the same time, it was possible to print not only prototypes of existing weapon models, but also to develop completely unique models.
3D printed weapons - analogues
The most well-known variants of weapons analogues printed in whole or in part are:
- Сolt M1911 from Solid Сoncepts
- Replica of the grizzly .22 hunting rifle made of plastic by a Canadian with the pseudonym "Matthew"
- Horns for AK 47 and AR-15 - Feinstein from Defense Distributed
- Parts for AK-47
Concept3d printed Solt M1911 printer.
For this, an alloy of chromium, nickel and molybdenum called Inconel 625 was used. 2000 shots can be fired from this weapon. In this case, the number of misfires will be minimal.
A grizzly .22 plastic hunting rifle capable of firing 14 rounds, after which its barrel becomes unusable. The weapon was built through trial and error on a Stratasys Dimension 1200e. nine0003
Other legally restricted options are hybrid systems of existing firearms.
New Designs
Many have gone further and have not tried to print existing models of weapons, but have tried to create new unique models. The most famous among them are:
- Liberator and Lulz Liberator
- Shutu-MP1
- Reprringer Pepperbox
The very first additive pistol was the Liberator. This iconic weapon appeared in 2013. It is completely printed on a Stratasys Dimension SST 3D printer, and its cost is about $10.
The drawings of this device were freely available. The disadvantages of this weapon were that it gave a lot of misfires, and was only capable of one shot. The shortcomings have been eliminated in the improved Lulz Liberator model. This plastic pistol is capable of firing up to 8 shots. Now the drawings are removed from the public domain. And the distribution and printing of Liberator is prohibited by law, although you can find a photo of it without problems. nine0003
There is a video on the Internet that shows the tests and characteristics of the combat Shut-MP1. This is a half-printed firearm, meaning it consists of an AR15 receiver and a printed plastic module.
Non-combat printed weapons
This is not about cosplay, but about other options, such as, for example, airsoft guns and air pistols. The printing of such weapons can be carried out on conventional FDM printers. At the same time, there are samples of air rifles printed on 3D printers. This weapon may well be used even in competitions, and it is even capable of outperforming many analogues produced using classical technologies.
This rifle has a light weight, a rate of fire comparable to market weapons and is equipped with a comfortable handle and stand. nine0003
So the seal of the weapon is a reality. On the one hand, now everyone can practice as a weapon designer or create a tool for self-defense. But on the other hand, it is important to control the production of firearms, because the security of society directly depends on this.
is it possible to print airguns and firearms
Is it possible to make a gun on a 3D printer and is it legal?
Today's 3D printers offer enormous possibilities. They can print products of almost any complexity. Until quite recently, it was difficult to even imagine that a plastic weapon could shoot. However, it is already possible to make a pistol on a 3D printer, which, although not reliable, still fires live ammunition. nine0003
Can firearms be 3D printed?
Back in 2013, a young American activist for the free sale and distribution of weapons proved that plastic weapons can be printed on a 3D printer.
He was the first in the world to make a pistol in this way, in which only the striker was made separately from metal. All other parts were printed on an FDM printer.
Today's 3D printers are capable of printing any CAD model, and these models of firearms have been available for over 10 years. If in previous years their printing required professional skills, now almost any user can master them. With a 3D printer and a finished model, it became quite possible to print a gun. Another thing is that such "creativity" is punishable by the laws of most countries. nine0003
The evolution of 3D printed weapons
Despite all the prohibitions and restrictions, the evolution of 3D printed firearms is moving at a great speed. The beginning was laid by the single-shot plastic pistol Liberator by American K. Wilson, which appeared in 2013. It had a simple design and was chambered for 380 ACP. Already after 10-12 shots, this weapon became unusable. However, the very possibility of printing firearms served as an impetus for the development of the idea.
The author of the first pistol himself founded the Defense Distributed company, which began to actively improve the technology. nine0003
One of the ways to increase the durability of weapons was to increase the number of their barrels. At the beginning of 2014, the Japanese Y. Imura makes a 38 caliber Zig Zag pistol. He was able to fire up to 6 shots non-stop. The author of the weapon was recognized as a criminal and convicted.
The next step was the production of a six-shot revolver by J. Patrick in 2015. The PM522 Washbear has been shown in action on YouTube. The weapon was noticeably safer for the shooter compared to previous versions, but still allowed to fire only a few dozen rounds. nine0003
The first semi-automatic pistol for a 9 mm bullet appeared in 2016 under the name Shuty-MP1. It was developed by a handicraft gunsmith who hid under the pseudonym Derwood. It wasn't exactly a plastic weapon. The author used some metal parts from factory pistols - a barrel, a firing pin, a bolt and several springs.
This made it possible to ensure a rate of fire of more than 46 rounds / min. However, when changing the store, the plastic case had to be cooled. In 2017, the same master proposed an improved model - Shuty AP-9.
The main contribution to the development of 3D printed weapon printing technology was made by Defense Distributed, which brought together a group of like-minded activists. First, these enthusiasts won legal proceedings in the United States and obtained permission to 3D-print weapons, which greatly expanded their capabilities. Secondly, they were able to set up a professional business with product testing and quality control. As a result, in 2018–19 they developed numerous models of a variety of firearms - from pistols to carbines. They posted over 30 files for printing original gun parts. Most of them were plastic, and the metal parts were not made from purchased, ready-made elements, but from simple metal profiles (tubes, strips, etc.), which are sold in ordinary hardware stores.
This made it possible to exclude the use of parts patented by gunsmiths. nine0003
At the moment, the semi-automatic carbine FGC-9, developed on the basis of the Shuty AP-9, has become the pinnacle of "creativity" of Defense Distributed. At the same time, there is not a single factory part in it. The barrel for the 9 mm cartridge is made of steel pipe using electrochemical processing.
Where can I get drawings and what should I look for?
Gun manufacturing bans make it much more difficult to access blueprints and models of guns for 3D printing. The right to free placement of information was achieved only by Defense Distributed. Their website provides free access to drawings, models and technologies. Other information can be found on the Internet, but they are usually illegal. nine0003
When choosing a model, pay attention to the following information:
- material used;
- cartridge for which the model is designed;
- number of cartridges in the magazine, rate of fire;
- operating time before failure.
It is important to clarify which metal parts will need to be purchased separately, in addition to plastic for printing on a printer.
What does the law say in different countries?
The only country where firearms can be 3D printed is the United States. Gun Control Act 19 applies here68, giving Americans the right to make weapons, but only for personal use. Only one limitation is put forward: it must be determined by metal detectors, that is, it must have a metal element. In virtually all other countries, homemade manufacture and repair of weapons for any purpose is prohibited by law. In Russia, printing it on a 3D printer falls under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and is punishable by imprisonment.
Should we be afraid of plastic weapons?
The question of how dangerous a weapon printed on a printer is becoming increasingly important. Despite all the prohibitions, it is extremely difficult to control the spread of technology around the world.
The availability of 3D printers and the increase in their functionality make it possible to master the production of plastic guns at home. How dangerous is such a weapon? nine0003
Most experts agree that currently printed weapons are more of an interesting toy. It is quite expensive and is designed to carry out only a few dozen shots. Moreover, such pistols are quite dangerous for the shooter himself with live ammunition, because they can explode in their hands.
However, the danger cannot be underestimated. It is easier and cheaper for a "serious" criminal to buy illegal military weapons than to make them on a printer. At the same time, there may be "enthusiasts" who, for their own interest, can make a pistol and try it out in action. Such inadequate people represent an undoubted danger. In addition, the temptation is great for terrorists. Metal detectors do not detect a plastic gun, which means that it is easier to carry it, for example, on an airplane. nine0003
Important! Plastic weapons have a very small resource.
At the same time, sometimes just one shot is enough to kill a person.
3D printed firearms have the following advantages:
- the ability to make military weapons at home;
- light weight;
- availability of materials;
- Ability to copy famous weapon models.
Always remember that there are significant disadvantages:
- illegal production;
- high cost of weapons;
- very small resource and limited rate of fire;
- danger to the shooter himself.
Currently, plastic weapons have more disadvantages than advantages, and most importantly, you can get a real prison term for making them.
Prospects for printing weapons
The potential for 3D printing of firearms is far from exhausted. The expansion of equipment capabilities and the development of innovative materials indicate that in the near future such weapons may approach military weapons in terms of characteristics.
