Worried about accidentally 3D printing a gun? New software will prevent it

[DainBramaged]

A Danish company that sells 3D printer component parts and related software to 3D printer manufacturers now says it has come up with a firearm component detection algorithm.

On Tuesday, Create it Real announced that in the coming months its software would include an option to find and block gun parts. When it detects a file that contains firearm parts, the software will shut down and disallow printing. Create it Real's software will likely be licensed to 3D printer manufacturers for around "several thousand euros annually" and then bundled with a 3D printer sold to individual consumers.

This innovation is squarely aimed at efforts from Defense Distributed, the group based in Texas that has done more to advance 3D printed firearm research than any other organization worldwide. In the last several months, DefDist has made and demonstrated an AR-15 lower receiver and an entire handgun. As a result, a number of American legislators started drafting new possible regulations in the face of rapidly declining 3D printer prices.

“In Europe there are laws around manufacturing firearms—if it becomes too easy to just press print, who is responsible?” Jeremie Pierre Gay, the company’s CEO, said to Ars. “That is the concern of the manufacturer. They want to get rid of this responsibility. In general, our software works like an antivirus [program], we have a central database [where] we collect all the files that are firearms.”

“The goal is that the average user won’t be able to by mistake print a gun”

http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/06/worried-about-accidentally-3d-printing-a-gun-new-software-will-prevent-it/

[Starry Messenger]

1. Good.

I like teh potential of this technology, but didn't like that all the talk about it was turning to how it could crank out firearms.

[NoOneMan]

2. Coolest program since Fake Block

[grok]

3. time to breakout the jailbreak software tools...

One has to wonder if the software that prevents firearm components being printed is to be installed on a system controlling(easy), or imbedded in the hardware via flash memory(little harder)


either way i bet it gets cracked with days,,,,

and the company gets off the liability hook

[Rod Walker]

4. How exactly does one print a gun "by mistake"?

"Darn it, I meant to print a miniature figure for Warhammer 40,000 and out popped a lower receiver for an AR-15!"

[DainBramaged]

5. (sigh)

[ceonupe]

10. if you read the original article

it explains this is firmware or system code software modifications that help shield 3d printer from liability.

This is not designed for end users persay but for the makers of the printers should laws be made that require electronic counter measures to prevent the making on gun parts on 3d/material printers

[TheMadMonk]

6. OH FFS. The difference in price between a CNC mill & a 3D printer...

...is essentially zero.

And I GUARANTEE, a far far better, safer, and more reliable undetectable plastic firearm can be made using a CNC mill working with preformed stock, than can be managed using extruded thermosetting plastic.

Using metal stock, virtually anything can be made if your mill has enough axes of freedom.

With careful design, good results can be obtained with a minimum of tooling. A Sten gun can be manufactured using nothing but basic hand tools tools available in occupied WWII France.

Making untraceable firearms really is a pretty trivial task. The threat of zip guns has been with us for a long, long time, and a modicum of care will ensure the thing won't explode in your hand. However, we don't see very many for a couple of reasons. 1) It's generally easier to source a regular multi-shot firearm, than it is to construct a solid single shot zip gun that may not work at all. and 2) The penalty for manufacturing a firearm to be used in a crime is greater than illegally buying one for the same purpose.

[grok]

7. you can always make one with a staple gun

just add a barrel and a firing pin. remarkably easy.


http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/12/wait-until-you-see-the-cool-do-it-yourself-guns-posted-by-a-person-on-reddit/

[BainsBane]

8. Paging the hosts

Cleanup on this isle.

[mwrguy]

9. Good

This should be embedded in every 3D printer sold.

It detects a gun, it locks up and even emails the authorities.