Life, the Universe and Everything can continue

Yes, the right section is the same as the middle section and useless. It would be a multiplicator IF the effects of in- or decreasing appear. So we built the left and the middle section only as shown at the other drawing.

 

Tolerances are a problem. I make holes bigger and shafts smaller regarding the accuracy of my printer - usually ±0,1mm to fit and ±0,15mm to run free. Parts with such built-in tolerances cannot be scaled later. One must know exactly the final dimensions when starting the construction. Life is hard!
One of my test-prints with ±0,2mm. That was to much.

 

We had a hype lately regarding 3D printed guns and downloadable data for such weapons (Cody Wilson). I know a lot about the quality of such data. It's always the same when laymen try to do jobs of professional engineers or artists: it's bullshit.

So I decided to check Cody Wilson's "Liberator" handgun. I downloaded the data from 3dsha.re already. It's a zip-file containing 16 STL-parts with cryptic names. First hurdle for stupid laymen in Europe: One must know that Cody Wilson lives in USA and uses inch instead of millimeter. Import inch-parts to a software witch uses millimeter or centimeter will end up with really small parts ;-)
I imported all parts to Rhino. Just to get an impression:

Oh, not really a gun but a pile of single parts. No clue how to put them together. A search for pictures delivered this:

Let's see, what I can do with this material!

 

Overview:

 

Well, first test. Cody Wilson made a 0 to 0 construction:


This won't work with any printer - cheap or expansive. Neither you would be able to put these parts together nor would it allow any movement.
So we got next hurdle for potential users of this data: The parts have to be modified with a CAD-software. And one has to know what he is doing. While assuming that many can manage the inch vs. millimeter-hurdle, I doubt a lot of them can handle CAD-data to make proper models for prints.

My first intention was to print the parts as they are. Just to show that it won't work. But that's obvious meanwhile. The more important question is: can someone with knowledge make a functional model from these data? I could ... but wait! There are several other questions. What about the springs?

The pattern at this picture is 1x1 mm. These elements are pretty filigree. I doubt they will deliver the power we need.
What about the diameter of the gun barrel?

It's currently 9,398 mm. Is this an appropriate caliber?

 

What is the purpose of such a weapon? It should be possible to bring it through the standard weapon controls. At airports or schools. I own a plastic toy witch looks like a heavy handgun. I won't be able to smuggle it through the check-in at an airport. It looks like a heavy handgun even. It's silhouette would cause an alarm. Even the "Liberator" looks like a handgun. But split into single parts it would probably pass the controls. What is the effect of pulling out a handgun in a plane? Most people would feel it as a menace. That's possible with a plastic toy already. Probably over time some folks would doubt if it's a real weapon. So let's fire one shot and everybody will believe that you are able to fire more shots. THAT is the purpose of such undertakings.

 

LOL! I would prefer something like this:

or this

In real life I am a pacifist ... more or less.
My main theme at this point is to counterattack this stupid hype "WOW! Everybody will be able to print his own weapons soon!"

 

Well, there is another aspect. I live in Germany. I am old. Occasionally at the loggia I think about how my life should end (and it will end definitely one day). With illness, cancer or dementia? Spending my last years not in the loggia but in a small room in a nursing home? My opinion is, that it would be better to say goodbye at the right point. That's a major problem in Germany. Either you try to get an illegal weapon, unaudited poison from dubious sellers or dash with 180 km/h into a tree. No chance to die in peace when the time has come. In this case one single effective shot could be the solution. Additional I won't hesitate to use metal parts.

 

Don't worry. I am fine so far. But I saw how my mother vanished into dementia and lost my mother in law few days ago because she was very old and completely helpless. And again: My main target is to kill the hype about this possibility to print your own shotgun at home with a $300 printer whenever you want. I contacted the press already to talk about all this bullshit and correct all this to a more serious picture.

 

Well, beyond weapons I finished my tablet stand:

The bronze colour is really impressive. I love it.
I found a "standby mode" when the figure is not in use. Just as a statue:

It's the sexist view of an old white man, I know. Okay, love me or leave me. I'm proud to be able to make such artworks.
And hey! It's unique. No one else owns such a figure! My wife was amused about this standby-version. But okay not every wife would share this feeling.