"Printed" 1911

[Hermit]

http://www.guns.com/2013/11/07/solid-concepts-unveils-first-3d-printed-metal-gun-full-size-45-acp-1911-video/

Solid Concepts is taking 3D printing over a threshold with their just-announced 3D printed stainless steel handgun. A 1911, the Solid Concepts pistol is chambered for full-power centerfire .45 ACP cartridges.

The company is out to prove a point, that 3D printing has reached a level of maturity and precision that they can make a traditional firearm with the leading-edge technologies. Naturally, they are working with industrial-scale 3D printers, not the types of devices hobbyists have at home.

“Solid Concepts is a world leader of 3D printing services, and our ability to 3D print the world’s first metal gun solidifies our standing,” explained Alyssa Parkinson in the company announcement. “The gun is a classic 1911, a model that is at once timeless and public domain. It functions beautifully: Our resident gun expert has fired 50 successful rounds and hit a few bull’s eyes at over 30 yards. The gun is composed of 30-plus 3D printed components with 17-4 stainless steel and Inconel 625 materials. We completed it with a selective laser sintered (SLS) 3D-printed hand grip, because we’re kind of crazy about 3D printing.”

 

[MTx11B]

Seems legit but as always they do not have a price yet. I would not mind putting one to the test just to see how it holds up

 

[JNieman]

Seems legit but as always they do not have a price yet. I would not mind putting one to the test just to see how it holds up

They don't have a price because you're not going to buy one.

It was a firearm made after many hours on a half-million-dollar machine. Back when I was setting up a job shop for installation and usage of a new tubing laser, which cost about $900k when all was said and done, the ROI was going to be a while, and machine time was estimated to have to hover around $150/hour, I believe. I think flat lasers were estimated to be around $100/hr.

That machine time isn't including the extensive finishing they have to do on those parts. DLMS processes create parts with a rather granular surface finish. It looks almost like a cast part. It's not as bad as your typical cast iron pan/pot, but that should adequately put it into perspective. Not great for friction surfaces, and aesthetics, yea? So a lot of polishing, filing, and/or surface grinding would have had to be done.

Then comes the materials. They used 17-4 SS which isn't the most expensive stainless out there - I've used it for suppressor baffles because it's nice for that. It's affordable. Not nearly as affordable as carbon steel, but it's not priced near what nickel superalloys are. Going with inconel, though, that **** is pretty heavy and it's expensive. Very expensive. So depending on which parts were inconel and which were 17-4SS, it might be a heavy bastard, too. Pricey, to say the least, however.

This was not a product, this was them showing they have a big dick in manufacturing. This was marketing.

 

[MTx11B]

If that's how the measuring contest works these days I lost by a mile hahaha but I just wanted one to abuse like a stepchild

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[03protege]

I always dreamed of one day having a CNC lathe and mill, maybe I should adjust my dreams to just have a metal printer.

 

[JNieman]

If that's how the measuring contest works these days I lost by a mile hahaha but I just wanted one to abuse like a stepchild

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Yea, I liken this to the guys who made that 100,000 dollar (or w/e the price was) AR10 out of all Titanium (except the barrel and trigger parts I think) - it was showing off and attracting people, as well as the advertising of every blog and niche site spreading their name/video.