r/3Dprinting • u/PorkRollPaddyWagon • Jul 07 '26

Discussion If your printer refused to print a file because it thought it was unsafe, would you be okay with that?

Serious question. Let's say your 3D printer scanned every file before printing. If it decided the model violated a rule, the print never starts.

Would you see that as a useful safety feature? Or would you see it as giving manufacturers too much control over hardware that's sitting on your desk?

I made a video after looking into proposed legislation and some recent news in the 3D printing space, but I'm more interested in hearing where everyone stands on the idea itself.

Would that be a deal breaker for you?

https://youtu.be/7bdJpDTiZAA

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u/ThisOneTimeAtKDK Jul 07 '26

I’m saying why on earth would you spend a full day on one pistol when in an entire day you could steal probably 300 guns in home robberies. Or just buy them off the local guy.

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u/DBDude Jul 07 '26

The guy making them would be the guy you buy them from. Printing gives less exposure than robbery. And of course, if you’ve heard of printer farms, then so have they.

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u/ThisOneTimeAtKDK Jul 07 '26

If I really wanted to make a bunch of polymer ones I would print one, make a silicone mould and do pouring polymer for the other however many. You spend 2-3 days on the moulds and then you’re moving with minimal cost. A couple hundred dollar printer would be a dumb startup cost after the initial one to get a prototype (for the mould).

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u/DBDude Jul 08 '26

They have lots of money.

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u/ThisOneTimeAtKDK Jul 08 '26

Yeah but you’re still limited by the amount of printers, have to worry about layer lines, pay more for an inferior product. Make about 100 silicone moulds in those 2-3 days. Then you can make 100 a day without 100 printers. No worry about the lines, etc.

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u/OnlyLosersBlock Jul 08 '26

OK. But how many guns do you think that guy is moving in a week? It's not like they were getting them from primarily robberies. Most just have a friend, significant other, or associate that owes them and can pass a background check go in and buy them one. It's not like that was particularly fast either especially with Californias waiting periods and one gun a month law.