3D printing of guns

[Politruk]

In Star Trek, the Federation has a post-scarcity economy because of matter replicators.

If those ever become real, they will come at the end of a long line of technological development that began with 3D printers.

And for all time, it will be remembered that the first practical use of that technology was to make assassination weapons.

 

[RoryN]

And for all time, it will be remembered that the first practical use of [3D printing] technology was to make assassination weapons.

It wasn't. Not even close.

 

[Politruk]

It wasn't.

Not even close.

What else has it been used for?

 

[RoryN]

What else has it been used for?

You may currently own something which uses 3D-printed parts. We're well into a decade of it being mainstream in the market.

Here's HP's article on 3D printing in manufacturing:
https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/3d-printers/learning-center/what-is-3d-printing.html

Here's examples of how it is used in metal finishing: https://www.sharrettsplating.com/blog/3d-printing-in-manufacturing-and-how-metal-finishing-comes-into-play/#:~:text=In manufacturing, 3D printing refers,and then “printing” it

 

[UltraChad]

In Star Trek, the Federation has a post-scarcity economy because of matter replicators.

If those ever become real, they will come at the end of a long line of technological development that began with 3D printers.

And for all time, it will be remembered that the first practical use of that technology was to make assassination weapons.

IDK about 3d printing but a large amount if not most technology starts out as a weapon.

 

[Rebel5soul]

3D printers first appeared back in the 1980's and were the invention of 3D Systems. They were used to make the blanks for various mold processes. The first that the public saw them was the conformal headlight assemblies on their automobiles and trucks as opposed to the old round or square glass bulbs.

3D Systems

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Stereo lithography has been around since the 1980s or earlier. 3D Systems, a company based in Southern California sold units that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and were mostly used for rapid prototyping by the automotive, aerospace and manufacturing industries. Much cheaper 3D printers today are used for low volume manufacturing for all kinds of things like prosthetics, toys, parts, and even building components.