Has anyone heard of “3D GUN’T” software that’s apparently being put into new 3d printers? It can apparently block prints based off the shape or whatever to prevent the printing of gun parts, and keeps tabs on who printed exactly what. It’s basically DRM for 3d printers. Also laws in certain states demanding printers be legally required to start blocking gun parts. It may be the beginning of something worse as it adds the infrastructure needed to further block “bad shapes” down the road.
https://3dprint.com/314218/daring-am-software-advances-aim-to-curb-illegal-3d-printing-of-firearms/ https://printandgo.tech/blog/3d-gunt-solution-to-prevent-3d-printed-ghost-guns
Good luck adding drm to a microwave to prevent it from microwaving “fish and fish adjacent shapes”. 3d printers consist of a couple of motors and a hot bit. No computer in there, unless you go for the high end stuff and even then they can’t run that sort of software. MCUs are clocked in MHz, but even a 10 year old computer is clocked in GHz. Even with a cloud connections, how much money have companies poured into “AI” only to have it still get things wrong? Do lawmakers expect a podunk garage team to figure out what Google, Meta, Apple, and literal billions of R&D haven’t?
Since this is effectively a ban, it would result in “healthcare CEO shot by wooden ghost gun” if gun kits are still sold, because 3d printers don’t print guns. They print the “lower” that has the serial number, which is legally, but not practically, defined to be the “gun”. Any gun that doesn’t have a serial is a ghost gun, but the point is moot.
More realistically, it would result in: “healthcare CEO shot by a 2026 special edition 9mm VEHHFU746582 on sale for 1984$, get it before it is banned” because for some reason the legislature is running on rich people feelings, and this shooting is special because of the gun, and not because of EVERYTHING ELSE.
Not super into guns but I’m a bit frustrated with the technical ineptitude of some of these lawmakers. Gun control existed before 3d printers did, this is just half assed. Feel free to correct me if I missed something.
Yeah, these laws are incredibly invasive, and potentially crippling to smaller manufacturing operations.
Wow! No sovereign citizen is advocating for this!
Thanks for sharing this. This bolstered my spirit.
I liked the bit where it discusses how, regardless of the effectiveness of whistles in deterring ICE, they have proven to be helpful in regular people feeling less alone.
We always have to remember: There are a LOT more of us than them. These whistles help us remember that.
Been printing them, just need some good locations to place my boxes
A lot of small coffee shops will allow them in their bulletin board area
Anywhere in public is great. If you’re in a place where ICE is less active, you’ll want to package the whistles with instructions to alert the local rapid response hotline.
I’ve seen whistles with the number for the local rapid response hotline printed right on them. Must have been one of those fancy multi-filament printers.
You can do it with any 3D printer, as long as you orient the letters so they’re at the top of the print, you can insert a pause in the print job just before it starts the layers with the letters. Then you do a manual filament swap and resume the print.
Another option is to print a QR code on them with a link to instructions/the organization.
Misunderstood, didn’t realize you meant color
Heat stamping might be quickest alternative. Should be rugged and aid low-vision use.Full brass letterpress type sets and die can be pricy, but the cheap leather iron kits at craft shops commonly include small metal alphanumeric types that could be set (clamped) and affixed to your stamp (burning/soldering iron or pliers + hot plate/stove).if it’s not multicolour then you can just make the printer leave indents for the letters (or print extra material to have it raised)
no need for post processing or extra equipment which slows down the process and adds extra work
I thought it was a matter of detail resolution not simply color. My bad.
Do you have to prime 3d printed objects? If not, just print the number and like dip into water paint. Ideally you could print a lip with higher numbers so only the top of the numbers get painted
Black marker works on most plastic
Only issue with black marker on 3d prints specifically is the ink tends to wick around the layer lines. Still works but doesnt look great. Paint markers are usually my goto
Yup this issue you can see in my picture. I was hoping paint markers would have been viscous enough to not bleed but it did anyways. Not that big of a deal for a fire and forget box of whistles.
Good enough is good enough
If it’s bevelled text you can swap filament during print to make it stand out / easy to read.
Only problem is that you have to baby sit the print, which could slow down production considerably
Which STL do you prefer?
This is the one I used, it’s quickish and prints well at 18 at a time. Figured it would be comfortable to hold.
They are armed. You should be too. And wear protective gear. They’ve permanently blinded people on purpose. They’ve already executed people in the street. Notice they aren’t near anyplace where bpp is active.
An alarm won’t stop a break in, and a whistle won’t stop these goons from harming you.
If you really want to fight back, learn from the Mexican cartels and Islamic insurgencies.
We have data on what works.
a whistle won’t stop these goons from harming you.
No it will not, but it will alert everyone around you to ICEs presence so they can have an opportunity to be somewhat prepared.
You’ll at least give your neighbours a chance to put some pants on, hide, barricade, or even arm themselves; before ICE tries to kick in their door.
It also calls others to your aid; quickly forming mob that out numbers ICE, forcing them to focus on crowd control instead of targeted kidnapping.
Intentional deescalation does more right now than having the people closest to ICE or Border Patrol agents carrying weapons.
The standard for now is that responders with guns stay back to deter massacres.
You both make good points, but prevention is better than de-escalation or alerting. Being known as protected is a preventative measure.
Of course alarms/monitoring and response (de-escalation) are very important. But stopping it before it starts should get attention as well.
Not everyone can afford big guns and heavy armor; nor have the training/licensing required to cary/display them.
3D printed whistles are a cheap and easy aid. Every bit of resistance helps.
nor have the training/licensing required to cary/display them.
Exactly.
Recommending that random untrained people go around armed is a recipe for disaster (see: ICE’s random untrained people going around armed). It’s irresponsible, at best.
I read these people as if they’re calling for violence but trying to skirt the line in a way that doesn’t get them banned.
Ironic. If you want to reduce crime, invite the Black Panthers to keep the ICE Apes away.
I mean, the Black Panthers started because people realized that peaceful unarmed protests would be violently busted, but peaceful heavily armed protests were politely watched from across the street. Blindfiring into crowds is a lot less appealing for cops when the entire crowd can return fire.
Power only respects power. Always has been that way.
What is bpp?
I’ll assume it’s the Black Panther Party.
black panthers
Really cool article and movement, thanks for sharing it. I’ve been printing whistles and leaving them in my little free library but had no idea there was this nation wide movement going on.
i mean, if we’re printing whistles why ain’t we printing death whistles
They take forever to print and use a lot of filament.
They’re printing liberty ships, not cruise ships.
these are good points
I think they’d be great for distraction and irritation, but at the same time, they’re not as god for signaling and alarming, and, I would imagine, would desensitize us to human screams.
Just start using lrads
real ones know what I’m getting at here.
“Dats only in the mornaing. You suhposta be up, cooking breakfast by then, so- that’s like an alarm clock! WooWOOOOOOO!”
Wonder what Bubb Rubb and Lil Sis are up to in 2026.
still putting whistle tips on for the people
Bub Rubb!
I can hear him sayimg woooowooooo
Oh wow, 13 years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUXow3d3-b0
wooo woooo
That’s only in the mornin
You supposed be up cookin breakfast for somebody
Just for decoration
Ty. Keep it up!
Downvoting for paywalled article with no summary provided
Article isn’t paywalled for me. Headline is ok. 3d printing a whistle supposedly costs under 5 cents. OTOH, that type of plastic might be less safe to put in your mouth.
If you would rather invest in a quality whistle for the one that goes in your own mouth, I recommend an ACME Thunderer.
As used by gym teachers and drum majors, (not Wile E. Coyote) they have a satisfying roll of authority.
It’s not going to be significantly unsafe. It’ll shed more microplastics and is more likely to grow mold due to the surface texture, but if you’re inhaling through the whistle you’re using it very wrong.
That said, an injection molded whistle can be bought by the thousand for a few cents each.
The biggest concern with these come from the fact that it’s hard to decontaminate 3d printed stuff due to the texture, as far as I can tell? PLA, and PETG are food safe, but 3d printing does leave a texture that’s hard to fully clean, which can cause problems over time.
For microplastics: You’re getting a lot from a lot of sources, and as with anything it’s an “Is the risk worth the benefit” situation
Polylactic Acid (aka PLA) is a protein found in milk and corn. PLA filament is made from fermented corn starch.
They use PLA in several tea bags and coffee filters now.
… of course I research and avoid those. I’m not super paranoid about plastic, but boiling it and drinking it seems insane.
Its a gift link. Unless you’re doing something fairly uncommon, like removing the gift token, access is free. You can also use one of the various archive sites
Haha, funny you should say that, I’ve been linking this to people but taking the tracking portion out of the URL as I always do, I think that’s pretty common amongst us lot :-D
I’d say oopsie, but I dunno, articles like these should probably be free without needing special URL parameters. Not everything of course, but vital public safety announcements like this.
…that’s not what happened when I clicked it. I guess you have to have your anti-tracking disabled?
(side note: I hate the phrase “gift link”. It’s not a gift, it’s a promo, as evidenced by the number of blatant marketing agency accounts posting them on social media.)
That’s weird, it shows up as a gifted article for me
I’ll believe it when I see it
Then watch any kind of video featuring ICE in Minnesota…
Citizens are printing these, not politicians.
Literally happening at scale already. Its not yet full victory, but it slows down ICE and limits their ability to take people at random
