3D Printers... how do they work? And DO they work?

[Collector]

And a firing pin is small enough that it will probably not set off the detectors. I have never bothered to take off my belt with a metal buckle at airport screenings. Never had a problem.

[Rath Darkblade]

I could see three reasons:

1. Mass production.

2. There's no record of purchasing the weapon, just the 3D printer and the material used in it. That could be used for making toy cars or stabbing implements. No one would know which one you're planning.

3. The "it's not metal" factor. Bring a regular knife onto an airplane, the metal detector goes off. Now try it with a plastic knife. No alarm.

Hmmm... the thing I was getting at was that metal knives etc. are far more plentiful (and easier to get) than creating a plastic one. They're also much cheaper than getting a 3D printer, and quicker too (as BBP pointed out). But of course, the "not metal" factor would make it more difficult for people to get caught with one.

Are 3D printers very expensive? I understand they're in excess of $2,000 or so. If they are, I thought that might stop would-be criminals from getting one (hopefully) - but again, how can a salesman know that a person buying a 3D printer is planning a crime? *shrug* It's not exactly written on their foreheads... :-\

[DeadPoolX]

Hmmm... the thing I was getting at was that metal knives etc. are far more plentiful (and easier to get) than creating a plastic one. They're also much cheaper than getting a 3D printer, and quicker too (as BBP pointed out).

Here's the thing: if you go into a store or go online an order a bunch of knives — on a personal credit card instead of a business credit card — it will look weird. Now that probably won't stop anyone from completing the sales order, but that also means if you were considered a suspect in a crime, there is a direct, and very easily traceable, connection to your purchasing those knives.

Contrast that with purchasing a 3D printer and the material for it. You can use that device for lots of things, not just weapons. That makes it more difficult to establish a direct connection to a stabbing crime.

Are 3D printers very expensive? I understand they're in excess of $2,000 or so. If they are, I thought that might stop would-be criminals from getting one (hopefully) - but again, how can a salesman know that a person buying a 3D printer is planning a crime? *shrug* It's not exactly written on their foreheads... :-\

3D printers are expensive when compared to normal printers, but $2,000 isn't really that much when you think of everything a 3D printer can do. Just a few years ago they were easily twice, if not three times, that much, so the cost has dropped considerably.

Plus, you can find 3D printers for a lot less than $2,000 nowadays. Take this list, for instance. On it, the most expensive 3D printer is $699, whereas the cheapest is $100 USD.

I don't know how good those 3D printers are, but for most consumer purposes, they're probably just fine.

Obviously you'd want something a lot better for professional purposes, but that's the same with nearly all electronic devices.

After all, you can apparently find cheap digital cameras for as low as $24.95 (normally $60.00), and expensive digital SLR cameras for as much as $4,249.99 (normally $6,999.95) USD.

I know digital cameras are a more commonly sold and owned item, but my point is that there are always expensive and inexpensive electronic devices sold. 3D printers are no different.