Talk:Notable 3D printed weapons and parts

Limits of topic are arbitrarily defined
This page seems to be operating on a subjective definition of 3D-printing - more traditional definitions which work off "additive manufacturing" require you to include Laminated Object Manufacturing and automated tape-laying as 3D-printing technologies, at which point a large number of composite airframes become 3D-printed (which would be extremely hard to cite/verify)

It may make more sense to focus on rapid prototyping technology like polymer FDM, SLA, and SLS. Trying to expand it to "3D printing" as a whole introduces significant editorial discretion and is probably casting a net that's too wide to be meaningful.

Or, potentially, it might make sense to say "metal 3D printing" and "plastic 3D printing" to give more narrow categories.

As-is, I agree with lower discussion titled "arbitrary topic" but wanted a more substantive, technical, and actionable point to be made. 50.24.29.29 (talk) 11:33, 31 May 2022 (UTC)

Major changes to structure by User:Andy Dingley
I have reverted this here: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_notable_3D_printed_weapons_and_parts&diff=630688818&oldid=630514909

1. It is not an improvement, because it makes it more difficult to understand the data presented

2. When I check the difference I see some references have been moved about

3. Its a major change and it was not discussed on talk page prior to change--Gomu gomu no pistol (talk) 15:58, 23 October 2014 (UTC)


 * You might find WP:OWN and WP:SOCK useful reading. Andy Dingley (talk) 17:19, 23 October 2014 (UTC)

Arbitrary topic
Is the intersection between 3D printing and weapons really significant/notable?
 * 3D printing is a mechanical engineering technology.
 * Weapons are products of mechanical engineering.

(i mostly agree but there is some electrical and computer engineering behind 3dprinting as wellPostmahomeson (talk) 15:11, 21 August 2020 (UTC)

Thus it is (imho) quite unremarkable that 3D printing has been used in the development or production of some weapons. I believe it's no more remarkable than "List of car parts made of carbon composite" or "List of brides who wore blue shoes at their second weddings". Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 18:32, 23 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Well I'm sure you know where AfD is...
 * I think it's notable. The crossover is not merely an engineering one, but also a political one. 3D printing is incorrectly seen as "manufacture useful things easily at home" and the idea of "manufacture functional firearms at home" is terrifying to politicians and pundits. That makes it significant, the amount of outraged newsprint as a result makes it WP:Notable. Andy Dingley (talk) 19:10, 23 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Well in that case the political issue should actually be spelled out somewhere - with citations of some of the "outraged newsprint". The article currently presents no evidence at all that "Gunman makes own machinegun in basement with a 3D printer! - Legislation coming soon to regulate sale of terror technology" has ever happened or is even an issue of interest to the public or governments anywhere. Some of the cited sources express concerns about the matter but the article itself does not. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 16:41, 26 October 2014 (UTC)
 * You can try deleting an article with 76 references for "no evidence" if you want. You could even try expanding the intro. As a hint, the Liberator is the one that attracted the most media furore. Andy Dingley (talk) 19:04, 26 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Hi Andy Dingley As I see it the problem is that as a "List of" article it doesn't really allow for much explanation of the issues. Most "list of" pages are created as splits from already existing articles that do describe the topic in some detail and so place the list in a proper context. This list was created without reference to such a context. It seems as if the original author simply presumed that readers would already know the significance and socio-political context of the topic.
 * I might have a go at adding some of the context, but it may mean this page will no longer be a pure "list of". In any case the list should probably be split into examples of "issue free routine engineering" use of the technology by legitimate "mainstream" firearms manufacturers and those cases that do in fact cause alarm in the media and circumvent or run close to the edge of the law. Roger (Dodger67) (talk) 07:14, 27 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Rename article? "notable" in the name as it stands runs counter to naming conventions. GraemeLeggett (talk) 08:23, 27 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Yes, removing "notable" would be an improvement. Andy Dingley (talk) 10:07, 27 October 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 21 external links on List of 3D printed weapons and parts. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/04/08/defense-distributed-releases-printable-ak-magazine/
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/01/14/gunsmiths-3d-print-high-capacity-ammo-clips-to-thwart-proposed-gun-laws/
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/01/defense-distributed-prints-an-ar-15-receiver-that-has-fired-more-than-600-rounds/
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.businessinsider.com/defense-distributed-feinstein-ak-mag-2013-3
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22421185
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503347
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/10/08/3d-printed-pepperbox-pistol/
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140911014912/https://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=index to http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=41_42
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=index
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503347&objectid=11160159
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 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=index
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195609/http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_47&products_id=70 to http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_47&products_id=70
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=product_info
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195254/http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_48&products_id=73 to http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_48&products_id=73
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://oceania-defence.com/index.php?main_page=product_info
 * Corrected formatting/usage for https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/3d-printed-components-flown-british-034921661.html
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://2014.3d-expo.ru/en/british-tested-fighter-printed-parts
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://lenta.ru/news/2014/01/06/tornado/
 * Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/126185-printing-planes-bae-systems-now-using-3d-printed-parts-in-fighter-jets
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20141101031912/http://www.3ders.org/articles/20141029-the-world-second-3d-printed-metal-gun-revealed-the-reason.html to http://www.3ders.org/articles/20141029-the-world-second-3d-printed-metal-gun-revealed-the-reason.html

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A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion: You can see the reason for deletion at the file description page linked above. —Community Tech bot (talk) 19:07, 1 September 2022 (UTC)
 * Liberator2.webp

Tails
https://baltics.news/2023/01/28/grenade-tails-printed-on-3d-printers-in-valmiera-help-ukrainians-on-the-battlefield/amp/ Victor Grigas (talk) 14:14, 21 March 2023 (UTC)

Removal of the "Printer" column
Removing the "Printer" column will help clear up a somewhat confusing aspect of this table. Many of the entries were either something like "Many common 3D printers", or a random printer mentioned in the first news article about the file. This could create confusion, as almost all of these files can be created by any FFF printer with sufficient bed size, not just that specific printer. I think the process column is the best way to clarify which of these files are designed to be printed in metal on more expensive printers. Gabbygs (talk) 05:24, 20 December 2023 (UTC)

Removal of metal 3D printed muzzle devices
I think there is an argument to be made that metal 3D printed suppressors should be removed from this article. There is a rapidly expanding list of companies and products that use metal 3D printing to create their muzzle devices, most commonly suppressors. It would be nearly impossible to list them all, and I think it goes against the spirit fof this article. This topic appears to be a list of parts and designs that are intended to be produced by commercial printers that are primarily limited to plastic FDM or resin printing, not expensive metal laser sintering machines.I would propose the removal of all muzzle devices intended to be printed out of metal and sold commercially, as they don't really seem to fit the theme of this article. Gabbygs (talk) 05:47, 20 December 2023 (UTC)