Engineering:Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS
| Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS | |
|---|---|
 The Solid Concepts 3D printed 1911 pistol | |
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | John Browning |
| Designed | 1911 (original design) / 2013 (3D printed version) |
| Manufacturer | Solid Concepts |
| Produced | 2013 |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | .45 ACP |
| Action | Short recoil operation |
| Feed system | 7-round standard detachable box magazine |
The Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS is a 3D-printed version of the M1911 pistol.[1][2] It was made public around November 2013[1][2] and was printed via the direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) method.[1][2] It was created by Solid Concepts.[1][2][3] A Solid Concepts Browning M1911 replica fired more than 600 rounds without any apparent damage to the gun.[2] The metal printer used to create the weapon cost between $500,000 to $1,000,000 at the time the gun was created as of November 2013.[2] The first gun, version 1.0, is made up of 34 3D-printed 17-4 stainless steel components.[4]
Specifications
It weighs 2.25 pounds (1.02 kg) when it is empty i.e is not filled with a magazine and the trigger pull weighs 5 pounds-force (22 N). The width is 1.3 inches (33 mm) wide. The sight radius is 6.4 inches (160 mm) 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.[5] The gun used Inconel 625 (a nickel-chromium alloy) material and stainless steel via the Direct Metal Laser Sintering method.[5]
The Solid Concepts Browning M1911 replica, version 2.0, will be composed of 34 Inconel 625 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 machined during production and assembly took less than seven minutes once the parts have been de-supported and cleaned.[6]
Printer
The German EOSINT M270 Direct Metal 3D Printer used[7] 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.[2] The printer requires argon and nitrogen gas[7]
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)".[8] In subsequent tests it fired more than 600 rounds without any damage to the gun.[2] The chamber can handle the pressure of more than 20,000 pounds per square inch (140,000 kPa) generated when the gun is fired.[2] The Solid Concepts Pistol fired its 5000th round on 6 September 2014.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 First metal 3D printed gun is capable of firing 50 shots, The Guardian, November 8, 2013. (archive)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 World’s First 3D Printed Metal Gun Successfully Fires 600+ Rounds, CNS News, November 13, 2013. (archive)
- ↑ 5 Different 3D Printed Gun Models Have Been Fired Since May, 2013 – Here They Are, 3D Print, September 10, 2014. (archive)
- ↑ Solid Concepts 3D-printed 1911 gets version 2.0, Guns.com, November 20, 2013. (archive)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 3D Printed Metal Gun Hitting the Market, GunDigest, January 3, 2014. (archive)
- ↑ Solid Concepts manufactures first 3D-printed metal pistol, Gizmag, November 8, 2013. (archive)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gun Review: Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS, Truth about guns, December 10, 2013. (archive)
- ↑ First 3D-Printed Metal Gun Fired Successfully, Sky News, November 9, 2013. (archive)
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