A mechanical engineering student has designed a functional 3D-printed revolver, and he claims it's the first in the world of its kind.

The PM522 Washbear can fire up to 8 bullets between reloads, and is printed using a consumer 3D-printer.

The Washbear is made almost entirely of 3D-printed materials, using ABS plastic or nylon, but has incorporated detectable metal parts in attempts to comply with gun regulations.

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A mechanical engineering student has designed a functional 3D-printed revolver, and he claims it's the first in the world of its kind. The PM522 Washbear illustrated) can fire up to 8 bullets between reloads, and is printed using a consumer 3D-printer

THE 3-D PRINTED PM522 WASHBEAR Mechanical engineering student James Patrick has been developing the design for this pepperbox-style revolver for months. The gun is capable of firing up to 8 shots without reloading. In compliance with gun authorities, the 3D-printed gun features detectable metal parts, including an elastic band spring, a metal firing pin, and steel rods. The design is currently available for download, but awaits legal approval. Advertisement

Its creator, James Patrick, has been working on the design for months according to Fox Tech, and simplicity drives its success.

A similar concept, Cody Wilson's Liberator, made headlines two years ago as the first 3D-printed handgun, but was only capable of firing single shots.

Patrick's gun features a removable pepperbox cylinder which is held in place by a pin, allowing the user to change between a six or eight-chamber cylinder.

Elastic bands are attached to the trigger, turning the cylinder and aligning the round once the cylinder is loaded.

The cylinder moves into places as the trigger is pulled, and the striker pulls back as well, equipped with a flat roofing nail as the firing pin.

When the trigger is pulled all the way back, the striker moves forward and hits the round with the firing pin, says Fox.

THE DANGERS OF 3D PRINTED GUNS Reporter Simon Murphy with the 3D gun he smuggled onto a Eurostar train There are a number of 3D-printed gun designs now freely available on the web. These guns are capable of killing, and accurately mimic real-life weapons. Since they are made of plastic and not metal means they can be taken through metal detectors without being picked up. In 2013, the Mail On Sunday exposed the international security risk posed by a gun that can be easily made with new 3D printers. They built a weapon, which is capable of firing a live round, from blueprints available on the internet – then smuggled it on to a packed Eurostar train. Two reporters passed completely unchallenged through strict airport-style security to carry the gun on to a London to Paris service in the weekend rush-hour, alongside hundreds of unsuspecting travellers. The pistol, capable of firing a deadly 0.38-calibre bullet, was produced in under 36 hours using a revolutionary £1,700 machine to 'print' its components. And because all the parts are plastic, they did not trigger the metal detectors all Euro-star passengers must pass through. In order to be considered legal, the guns must contain detectable metal parts. Advertisement

For safety, the cylinder is moved off-center as the trigger returns to its resting position to prevent accidental firing.

Now that a safe working prototype has been created, Patrick has decided to release the files, the website says, and the design is available for download.

Patrick's gun (prototype pictured) features a removable pepperbox cylinder which is held in place by a pin, allowing the user to change between a six or eight-chamber cylinder

An elastic band spring, a metal firing pin, and steel rods are the only metal features of the design, which is otherwise made entirely from printed material. Its creator, James Patrick, has been working on the design for months, and simplicity drives its success

An elastic band spring, a metal firing pin, and steel rods are the only metal features of the design, which is otherwise made entirely from printed material.

Time will tell if these detectable metal pieces will be enough for the gun to be considered legal by the authorities, or if the design will be removed from the internet, just as Wilson's Liberator was in its 2013 debut.



