Printers aren’t typically linked with the word “subversive,” but that’s the mission of a new site for 3D printer files. Defcad was announced Tuesday at the South by Southwest Interactive conference. It is designed to give 3D printer enthusiasts access to files that allow them to create objects with their printers — even if those objects are protected by intellectual property laws. Defcad is backed by Defense Distributed, an Austin, Texas group that recently made headlines by offering 3D printer files to make firearm parts.
I greatly appreciate the spirit of the article and agree with its basic premise. However, some of the information is a bit off.
"Maker Community" is not a reference to MakerBot users. It is a reference to an older, growing DIY movement which includes many individuals who use or make their own 3D printers. MakerBot is named after the community, not the other way around.
Furthermore, the AR-15 was not printed on a MakerBot. An FFF personal printer can't produce that kind of precision. The gun was printed on a pro-class Stratasys, a lease demo. We don't even know for sure if the lease application was approved before Stratasys took the printer back. However, that storyline doesn't fit into the "man keeping us down" DEFCAD marketing plan.
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'Subversive' Site Aims to Be Pirate Bay of 3D Printing
Posted by: John P. Mello Jr. March 13, 2013 11:55 AMPrinters aren’t typically linked with the word “subversive,” but that’s the mission of a new site for 3D printer files. Defcad was announced Tuesday at the South by Southwest Interactive conference. It is designed to give 3D printer enthusiasts access to files that allow them to create objects with their printers — even if those objects are protected by intellectual property laws. Defcad is backed by Defense Distributed, an Austin, Texas group that recently made headlines by offering 3D printer files to make firearm parts.
"Maker Community" is not a reference to MakerBot users. It is a reference to an older, growing DIY movement which includes many individuals who use or make their own 3D printers. MakerBot is named after the community, not the other way around.
Furthermore, the AR-15 was not printed on a MakerBot. An FFF personal printer can't produce that kind of precision. The gun was printed on a pro-class Stratasys, a lease demo. We don't even know for sure if the lease application was approved before Stratasys took the printer back. However, that storyline doesn't fit into the "man keeping us down" DEFCAD marketing plan.