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NZ Customs 3D-printed Fearmongering Shot Down

posted by LaminatorX on Wednesday March 12 2014, @11:54PM   Printer-friendly
from the their-customs-are-strange-to-me dept.

EvilJim writes :

"New Zealand Customs recently released a report stating guns, drugs and gems could soon be printed in your living room: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9768343/ Printers-capable-of-making-guns
Fortunately some experts have voiced their opinion on this report with some more down to earth thinking: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9773172/ No-smoking-gun-with-3-D-printers-experts-say
When will government get a handle on this technology and stop all the FUD? ever?"

 
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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by crutchy on Thursday March 13 2014, @02:49AM

    by crutchy (179) on Thursday March 13 2014, @02:49AM (#15745) Homepage Journal

    whilst there is obviously media license in this story, 3d printed guns are already a reality (giyf) and 3d printing technology is really only limited by materials which are always improving.

    not sure about "making" drugs with 3d printers, but no doubt 3d printing will add yet another dimension to drug smuggling aids.

    regarding gems, i guess if a printer comes out in (distant) future with high temperature and pressure capacities it might become possible to print cubic zirconia.

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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by suxen on Thursday March 13 2014, @04:46AM

    by suxen (3225) on Thursday March 13 2014, @04:46AM (#15765)

    3D printed guns are often as much of a danger to their user as the target.

    Here in the third world, we have been making pipe guns for years using shit you can find lying around.

    Being able to obtain a firearm without having to purchase or license it is hardly revolutionary.

    Now days you 'murkins think everything has to be manufactured in a factory. Back in the day it was standard practice to collect used slugs so they can be melted back down into bullets.

  • (Score: 1) by Aiwendil on Thursday March 13 2014, @12:04PM

    by Aiwendil (531) on Thursday March 13 2014, @12:04PM (#15936)

    Is there anything other than cost that actually stops one from modifying a synthetic-diamonds-via-laser-setup into a 3d-printer for diamonds?

    I means, since we already make synthetic diamonds by a method that basically is lasers pointed at substrate in a methane and hydrogen-mixture.

    • (Score: 0) by crutchy on Thursday March 13 2014, @04:47PM

      by crutchy (179) on Thursday March 13 2014, @04:47PM (#16079) Homepage Journal

      i'm not familiar with how cubic zirconia is manufactured, but i was under the impression that temperature and pressure were involved (basically the natural process but sped up in a lab) but you might be right.

      3d printing is a disruptive technology, and we don't yet know of it's full potential.
      people will find new weird and wonderful applications that we can't even imagine today.