We've known for quite some time that many activist groups are equipping themselves with 3D printers to manufacture their own weapons , a way to build an arsenal without raising suspicion. This is one of the most dangerous uses of 3D printing, although it's not exactly new, as this has been known to be possible since 2013.
Going back to 2013, we arrive at the origin of this whole controversy, precisely when Cody Wilson , perhaps the head of the Defense Distributed group , first demonstrated that, thanks to the use of 3D printing, anyone could manufacture a weapon at home. This wasn't all he did, as the files needed to manufacture the weapon he himself christened ' Liberator ' were distributed online and downloaded more than 100.000 times in just a few days.
It is now possible to manufacture 3D printed weapons for a price lower than 15 euros per unit
Precisely because in most countries it is illegal to manufacture these types of weapons by 3D printing, at least in a domestic environment, it is not surprising that these types of files have become so popular on the black market, where, according to a study carried out by researchers from Rand Europe and the University of Manchester , it is one of the most popular items.
These files, like others we're used to working with on our 3D printers, are simply compressed files containing the instructions needed to 3D print firearms, along with their corresponding CAD files. Apparently, by following these instructions, you can manufacture your own firearm for less than €15.