Avi Reichental, president and CEO of 3D Systems, says the man behind the 3D-printed gun has done the 3D-printing industry a service.
Speaking at the Inside 3D Printing conference in Chicago, Reichental discussed the 3D-printed gun from a manufacturing standpoint. After showing video of 3D-printed gun discussions in mainstream media, namely the HBO news and commentary show Real Time with Bill Maher, Reichental explained that Cody Wilson, the founder of Defense Distributed and developer of the world's first operational 3D-printed gun, represents the possibilities of 3D printing on society at large.
Avi Reichental
Politics aside, what's remarkable about the 3D-printed gun is not necessarily that people can make weapons in their homes, Reichental said. Those who are skilled enough with metal or plastic machinery have had this possibility for decades, he added.
But what the 3D-printed gun signifies on a larger scale is the democratization of craftsmanship, Reichental said. Equipped with 3D printers, everyday people can simply download a file and create an object that, in the past, might require years of training in engineering or manufacturing to build. 3D Systems introduced its first 3D home printer, the Cube 3D, last year.
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