The Solid Concepts 1911 DMLS is a
3D printed improvised firearm
Improvised firearms (sometimes called zip guns, pipe guns, or slam guns) are firearms manufactured by an entity other than a registered firearms manufacturer or a gunsmith. Improvised firearms are typically constructed by adapting existing mater ...
version of the
M1911 pistol
The Colt M1911 (also known as 1911, Colt 1911, Colt .45, or Colt Government in the case of Colt-produced models) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered primarily for the .45 ACP cartridge.
History
Early histo ...
.
It was made public around November 2013
and was printed via the
direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) method.
It was created by
Solid Concepts.
The first gun, version 1.0, is made up of 34 3D-printed
17-4 stainless steel components.
Specifications
It weighs when it is empty i.e is not filled with a
magazine
A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...
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.
The gun used
Inconel
Inconel is a nickel-chromium-based superalloy often utilized in extreme environments where components are subjected to high temperature, pressure or Mechanical load, mechanical loads. Inconel alloys are oxidation- and corrosion-resistant. When he ...
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 wi ...
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 used
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; it has 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 abu ...
and
nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a Nonmetal (chemistry), nonmetal and the lightest member of pnictogen, group 15 of the periodic table, often called the Pnictogen, pnictogens. ...
gas.
Capability and firing tests
According to
Sky News
Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel, live stream news network and news organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of ...
, 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.
See also
*
List of 3D printed weapons and parts
References
{{Reflist
3D printed firearms
.45 ACP semi-automatic pistols
1911 platform
Semi-automatic pistols of the United States