The 3D printed gun “problem” is a seemingly unending social preoccupation which has plagued the additive manufacturing community since its conception. While it is true that 3D printed weaponry pose problems in certain cases (such as war manufacturing using stolen designs by the enemy), the technology is still very finicky, unfit for production and, more importantly, still falling under current “normal” gun restrictions.

Nevertheless, there has been a constant following in the field and it seems we’ve made quite a few different strides since the first Liberator gun was conceived. The most recent iteration of the 3D printed DIY gun is the Songbird, and it appears to have solved one of the biggest hurdles in the way of making a real, functional gun: reusability.

Capable of firing .22 rifle cartridges (although it has already been upgraded to shoot .357 rounds) the weapon consists in various bits and pieces, mostly 3D printable, and its revolution resides in its barrel. Through common FDM machines the user could print the barrel out of nylon or ABS plus a barrel liner; the latter option is the upgraded, double cartridge design.

The barrel liner is essentially a metal tube with internal linings used to make old guns fit for shooting again, simply by renewing the barrel. Some gun manufacturers made it already present in the gun’s design so that the gunsmith could easily swap the old with the new when it’s maintenance time.

The trick to it is in the double material design. The metal barrel surrounded by the ABS printed part result in enough mechanical strength to enable the gun to fire repeatedly without shattering. Previous generations of AM guns had the risky problem of shattering under the extreme forces and pressures involved in shooting bullets out with a “controlled” chemical reaction (explosion). Pretty much like the very first cannon designs were constructed using logs and wood parts, they would violently break apart: back in those days you could get killed by such an experiment while today you’re risking your hand or fingers but it’s still serious business.

As thus this looks like a big step ahead for this endeavour, creating something that won’t put your life in immediate danger unless you’re the one on the other side of the barrel. And although the hacking and maker community go nuts for this sort of thing it’s good to remember that present day regulations still apply to 3D printed guns. There are rising ethical issues coming out as a result of this new, gun-churning tool we’ve created but those with the will to create a lethal weapon could do so very easily with metal plumbing, a bit of chemical know-how and a solid object to act as projectile.