3D Printing News: New Imura Pistol Version Seen; 3D Map with Geographical Features to Help Blind People; Necklace Design Perfect for Mother's Day Available

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3D printing has currently made headlines again, as a new printable gun,a new 3D map and necklace design recently surfaced.

The gun designer, using the pseudonym Wayfairy, named the gun Imura Pistol, which in turn is named after Yoshitomo Imura of Kanagawa, Japan who was sentenced to a 2-year jail term for firing a printed gun.

"Turns out that making a double action revolver function with steel pipe, a steel pin, a handful of steel weights, rubber bands, and printed parts is more difficult than I'd imagined... Add onto that the fact that I'm designing in the blind without any way to do test fittings and such," Wayfairy said in a post.

Wayfairy took Imura's original .38-caliber Zig-Zag revolver design and revised it. He made several key changes, and ended up designing a new gun. He is now working on the third iteration of the Imura Pistol and promises to make the design available worldwide via free download.

"We're getting close. The driving system for the striker has been solved and the cylinder advancing system works like a charm. It's just a matter of putting the fixes together into a coherent design for Version 3 that's taking some time while working around my actual profession," Wayfairy added.

The main issue here is gun control and basic human safety. Authorities are cracking down on people doing similar activities. Yet, Wayfairy mentioned any move to stop them from designing 3D guns is a violation of their freedom.

At any rate, 3D printing has some positive uses of course. One of which includes map printing, which now allows makers to put geographies and other features into tangible form. Not only would the map be visually amazing, but now even the visually-challenged people can now use such maps.

"We had to figure out how to create the sidewalks that curve and replicate irregular angles and shapes," said Simon Misener, a CADD student from the University of Missouri working on the 3D map project.

Another design making waves is a necklace pendant from Simone Fontana and Ricardo Salomao. Originally designed for Valentine's Day, their creation makes for the perfect gift for Mom on her special day as well.

"We wanted to do a different jewelry piece, wearable and printed in FDM... a mix between organic and mechanic pieces. It is partially inspired by the filigree style from the north of Portugal (Viana) and with a steampunk vibe. It's meant to be an interactive piece and a declaration of love," Fontana said.

Indeed, technology such as 3D printing could actually be used in either productive or destructive ways.

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3D printing

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