What's the best 3D printer out there for <$1,500?
http://www.quora.com/3D-Printing/How-much-does-it-cost-today...
Mandatory I Am Not A Lawyer Statement
I'm more interested in actual costs of the democratization of force for places that don't already have weapons (unlike the USA).
Stop assuming that this.country == "US" when you talk to people on the internet, please.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/firearms-technology.html#com...
"Individuals manufacturing sporting-type firearms for their own use need not hold Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs)." So you could manufacture an AK receiver but you would have to outfit with a Saiga parts set to avoid falling afoul of 922(r) restrictions on "assault weapons".
I was only speaking to the U.S. as that is the only system I begin to understand the legalities of (and that would remotely allow this). The reality of an insurgency using 3D-printing to manufacture whole firearms isn't possible yet due to the stresses involved. I've had multiple mechanical failures due to MIM parts (metal injection molding) shattering in handguns. I can't imagine the current or near future 3D printing materials being able to surpass MIM in strength.
It would be more likely to be used to make difficult to manufacture components for weapons, such as molds for shaped charges.
Since Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) titanium has nearly the same properties of cast titanium, you could buy a printer in the sub 50k range.
Manufacturing a firearm with a 3D printer would be a federal crime in the USA. That's not why I asked.
I'm more interested in actual costs of the democratization of force for places that don't already have weapons (unlike the USA).
Great point about the democratization of force. I wonder if it's any easier than obtaining them on the black market in those countries.
PS: "fully-auto assault rifle" is redundant.
The downside is that it's located in Europe. You can buy them here: http://reprappro.com/
They also sell a bigger model (the mendel) now.
If you'd rather buy an american one, I've made no first hand experience with them, but heard good things from several people about maxbots. They sell the mendelmax, which is bigger than both of reprappros models, and more sturdy because it uses an aluminium frame.
Again, for under 1500, you will have to assemble it yourself:
Disclaimer: I have not done any research on anything that isn't a reprap. I prefer RepRaps because they're open source and made from standard components, which means easy to fix yourself, and even if whoever sold you the machine goes out of business, you will still be able to replace/fix any part of it. Apparently makerbot support is good, but only if you have the latest model (or so I've read, but again, I have not done proper research, so take it with a grain of salt)
There are a couple of kickstarter projects that I can't name off the top of my head trying to do the same for under $1000.
I think the worst cost issue is the money for the crappy plastic.
Also everyone is using pirated copies of 3d software instead of freecad
To the original question, MakerGear makes some high quality kits.