If you can operate a computer equipped with a plastic printer, I think you can operate a 18th century machine following a blueprint on paper. It is not like machinist design those lower receivers from scratch either.
IF 3D printer become as popular as regular printer, that will change.
A car for example, require more skills overall than using a printer or a lathe, yet you can ask the vast majority of American to use their car for, comparatively speaking, much more complex tasks than printer or machining a gun.
That said I agree that it is low skill to achieve on a lathe. Basic furniture making, DYI, car fixing, ... are also low level type of task. However, few people have the opportunity (time, money) to acquire those skills in the first place. If 3D printers becomes popular, it may not reduce the overall complexity but it will seriously increase the pool of people qualified and equipped to make them.
Not that I think this is a genuine concern in the US. Why would you print a gun when you can get a reliable, discreet one very easily.
I agree with you. I went from laymen to building both of them in a matter of months, and subtractive tech is both more readily available, cheaper, has more support from vendors for these uses than a printer. Strictly from a manufacturing perspective, it's the proper method for the part requirements, which is anything but trivial.
Comments
If you can operate a computer equipped with a plastic printer, I think you can operate a 18th century machine following a blueprint on paper. It is not like machinist design those lower receivers from scratch either.
IF 3D printer become as popular as regular printer, that will change.
A car for example, require more skills overall than using a printer or a lathe, yet you can ask the vast majority of American to use their car for, comparatively speaking, much more complex tasks than printer or machining a gun.
That said I agree that it is low skill to achieve on a lathe. Basic furniture making, DYI, car fixing, ... are also low level type of task. However, few people have the opportunity (time, money) to acquire those skills in the first place. If 3D printers becomes popular, it may not reduce the overall complexity but it will seriously increase the pool of people qualified and equipped to make them.
Not that I think this is a genuine concern in the US. Why would you print a gun when you can get a reliable, discreet one very easily.
I agree with you. I went from laymen to building both of them in a matter of months, and subtractive tech is both more readily available, cheaper, has more support from vendors for these uses than a printer. Strictly from a manufacturing perspective, it's the proper method for the part requirements, which is anything but trivial.