The Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS is a

3D printed 3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer co ...

improvised firearm Improvised firearms (sometimes called zip guns, pipe guns or slam guns) are firearms manufactured other than by a firearms manufacturer or a gunsmith, and are typically constructed by adapting existing materials to the purpose. They range in qua ...

version of the M1911 pistol.First metal 3D printed gun is capable of firing 50 shots
The Guardian, November 8, 2013.
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It was made public around November 2013 and was printed via the

direct metal laser sintering Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique that uses a laser as the power and heat source to sinter powdered material (typically nylon or polyamide), aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined b ...

(DMLS) method. It was created by

Solid Concepts Solid Concepts, Inc. is a custom manufacturing company engaged in engineering, manufacturing, production, and prototyping. The company is headquartered in Valencia, California, in the Los Angeles County area, with six other facilities located arou ...

.5 Different 3D Printed Gun Models Have Been Fired Since May, 2013 – Here They Are
3D Print, September 10, 2014.
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The first gun, version 1.0, is made up of 34 3D-printed

17-4 stainless steel SAE Type 630 stainless steel (more commonly known as 17-4 PH, or simply 17-4; also known as UNS S17400) is a grade of martensitic precipitation hardened stainless steel. It contains approximately 15–17.5% chromium and 3–5% nickel, as well as 3 ...

components.Solid Concepts 3D-printed 1911 gets version 2.0
Guns.com, November 20, 2013.
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Specifications

It weighs when it is empty i.e is not filled with a magazine and the trigger pull weighs . The width is wide. The sight radius is and consists of a standard GI with a square notch rear. The ratio of the twist is 1:15.8; at 6=Lands 6=Grooves.3D Printed Metal Gun Hitting the Market
GunDigest, January 3, 2014.
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The gun used

Inconel Inconel is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation for a family of austenitic nickel-chromium-based superalloys. Inconel alloys are oxidation-corrosion-resistant materials well suited for service in extreme environments subjected ...

625 (a nickel-chromium alloy) material and stainless steel via the Direct Metal Laser Sintering method. The Solid Concepts Browning M1911 replica, version 2.0, will be composed of 34

Inconel 625 Inconel Alloy 625 (UNS designation N06625) is a nickel-based superalloy that possesses high strength properties and resistance to elevated temperatures. It also demonstrates remarkable protection against corrosion and oxidation. Its ability to w ...

components, (not including grips). The two carbon-fiber filled nylon 12 grips were also 3D printed. Unlike early 3D printed plastic guns, the barrel of the 1911 was rifled. None of the parts were machined during production, and assembly took less than seven minutes once the parts had been filed and hardened.

Printer

The German EOSINT M270 Direct Metal 3D Printer usedGun Review: Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS
Truth about guns, December 10, 2013.
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to create the weapon cost between $500,000 to $1,000,000 at the time the gun was created as of November 2013 and uses a commercial-grade power source. The printer requires

argon Argon is a chemical element with the symbol Ar and atomic number 18. It is in group 18 of the periodic table and is a noble gas. Argon is the third-most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, at 0.934% (9340 ppmv). It is more than twice as ...

and

nitrogen Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...

gas

Capability and firing tests

According to Sky News, during the initial test Solid Concepts stated: "It functions beautifully. Our resident gun expert has fired 50 successful rounds and hit a few bull's eyes at over 30 yards (27.43 metres)". The Solid Concepts Pistol fired its 5000th round on 6 September 2014.

References

{{Reflist 3D printed firearms .45 ACP semi-automatic pistols 1911 platform Semi-automatic pistols of the United States

Specifications

Printer

Capability and firing tests

See also

References