Guns, guns, guns! And some weapons...
The Atomic Layers: 00304
Atomic Layer of the Week:
I don’t know whether this has anything to do with the situation in Venezuela and Greenland, but I am certain of one thing: this is 100% political.
The issue of banning 3D-printed guns is coming back with renewed force.
In January, two U.S. states introduced legislative proposals aimed at limiting the ability to manufacture firearms using 3D printers.
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul presented a bill that would require 3D printer manufacturers to build in safeguards preventing the printing of guns and their key components. The regulations would apply to both consumer and commercial devices used within the state.
In addition, possessing or sharing design files intended for 3D printing firearms without proper authorization would be criminalized. The proposal also includes a requirement for law enforcement agencies to report all recovered examples of such weapons to a statewide database, as well as a mandate for certain pistol models to be redesigned so they cannot be easily converted to fully automatic fire.
This initiative was partly a response to actions by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who had previously urged companies in the 3D printing industry to limit access to digital gun blueprints.
High-profile crimes were also cited, including the 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in which - according to prosecutors - a firearm and suppressor partially made with 3D printing were used.
Supporters of the regulations emphasize that while it is unrealistic to completely stop the spread of files on the internet, raising barriers to access may make things harder for potential offenders.
At the same time, Washington State introduced House Bill 2321, which focuses directly on technical restrictions on the printers themselves. It would require the use of algorithms capable of detecting firearm designs before printing begins.
All 3D printers sold or transferred within the state would have to include a function that blocks prints deemed illegal, as well as a mechanism to verify the software used to prepare models for printing.
The state attorney general’s office would be responsible for maintaining a database of prohibited design files, updated at least once a year.
Do I really need to dive into the nuances of these proposals to point out their weaknesses, or can you see them yourselves?
The challenges are technical and legal, and they also infringe on user privacy.
Anyone familiar with 3D printing knows that many so-called “ghost guns” are made from metal parts produced using CNC machining and are not fully printed constructions.
Public debate often features emotional stories about a growing number of crimes involving so-called ghost guns, and new legislative proposals are frequently built on that narrative.
However, reality shows that actual cases involving such printed components are still marginal, and most homemade firearms come from ready-made kits or metal parts.
Traditional rifles and pistols are far more commonly used by criminals than any printed plastic parts. Let’s be honest - the proposed regulations target symbols, not the real causes of crime, such as drug trafficking or access to the illegal firearms market.
This hysteria has been going on for over 13 years. The first major case was the Liberator project, published by Defense Distributed and its founder Cody Wilson in December 2012. It was a simple single-shot pistol whose CAD files were shared online and downloaded hundreds of thousands of times before the U.S. government ordered them removed.
In 2013, the city of Philadelphia banned the manufacture and possession of 3D-printed firearms in the first such law in the United States, citing the need to prevent the easy spread of untraceable and unregulated weapons.
Over the years, politicians and the media have often framed the issue in alarmist terms, suggesting that any 3D printer owner can produce a deadly weapon in their garage with just a few clicks.
The year 2024 brought a high-profile and tragic case that politicians quickly linked to the issue of printed guns. In December, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, and investigators arrested a 26-year-old suspect, Luigi Mangione, who reportedly had a pistol and suppressor partially made using 3D printing.
The death of a major corporate executive was widely discussed in the media as an example of “the threat posed by 3D printing” and as an argument for stricter regulations.
However, the details of the suspect’s motives, as well as whether the weapon was truly dependent on additive manufacturing, remain under investigation.
All of this - both the media hysteria and the politically driven legislation - ignore the core issues behind gun violence.
These proposals do not address the real social factors that lead to violence, nor do they acknowledge that many traditional methods of firearms production, such as CNC machining or injection molding, which are far more common, are not subject to similar digital blocking requirements.
Instead, political gestures focus on spectacular, attention-grabbing symbols of technology that resonate with the public, rather than on effective preventive measures.
Rather than dealing with the real plague of drug addiction and the trafficking carried out by powerful cartels in Mexico or Colombia, policymakers often take action against side issues or politically convenient targets.
Such simplified responses may look dramatic in the media, but in practice they do little to solve real social problems.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
12 years ago, 3DPrint.com was launched with an article on GE’s $100M investment in 3D printing. Founded by Brian and Ed Krassenstein, the portal became a major industry voice. The brothers, later known as anti-Trump activists on Twitter, sold the site in 2015. It survived subsequent owner bankruptcy and is now held by 3DR Holdings.
Today, it remains a leading source of additive manufacturing news, analysis, and unique investigative journalism, featuring a roster of esteemed contributors.
Read all:
News & Gossip:
Let me start with a quick explanation… Today’s newsletter landed in your inbox so late because I spent the entire week in back-to-back meetings in the south of France and I’m still in the middle of making my way home. This is the first ever Atomic Layer - and actually my first article of any kind - published from Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
High-tech industry insights, powered by airport Wi-Fi and mild jet lag!
#1
EOS is investing $3 million to expand its US production in Texas. The project enlarges its Pflugerville facility and opens a new Belton warehouse, creating more assembly capacity for metal 3D printers like the M 290 and M 400 series.
More on: www.voxelmatters.com
#2
Similar move from Roboze. Italian company has inaugurated its US Aerospace & Defense Headquarters in El Segundo, California. It is located near companies like Lockheed Martin and SpaceX.
More on: www.tctmagazine.com
#3
Xact Metal reported that 2025 orders are up over 30%, driven by demand for its compact metal 3D printers. Key machines like the XM200G and the new μHD model for fine details are well-received in defense, medical, and tooling.
More on: www.3printr.com
#4
ZB Designs - better known as Wigglitz - reported over $18M in 2025 retail sales of its 3D-printed toys. The Utah-based company, using a massive farm of Bambu Lab printers, grew +826% since early 2024. It sold 1.5 million units in December alone. A key distribution deal with Moose Toys expanded its reach into major retailers like Target, fueling rapid nationwide and international growth.
More on: www.voxelmatters.com
#5
A new open-source toolarrived! BamBuddy offers local, private management for Bambu Lab 3D printers. It replaces the need for Bambu’s cloud, addressing “security and control concerns”. The Python-based system provides print archiving, real-time monitoring, 3D visualization, smart scheduling, and multi-platform notifications. It runs on a local server, ensuring data stays on your network while offering comprehensive print workflow automation.
More on: www.fabbaloo.com
As my dear friend Martin said:
This was made targeting the group of wannabe thinkers and antisystem “3D printing hackers.” Because if you are a hardcore open source freedom nerd, you can do this yourself!
And cripple the functionality of the original product…
#6
Nike and Zellerfeld have unveiled a multicolor 3D-printed Air Max 1000 sneaker - with a special “Black Sabbath” coloring. It is possible thanks to Zellerfeld’s ability to print different colors and potentially varied TPU hardness levels within a single sole.
More on: www.3dprint.com