3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Why Criminals Also Love 3D Printing
qidi

Why Criminals Also Love 3D Printing

June 21, 2012

Government regulation on 3D printing is becoming a larger topic as this technology is becoming much more available for the average consumer to get their hands on. With desktop printers dropping steadily below $2,000 – almost anyone can gain access to a printer. Aside from that, 3D printing services exist on an international level. With the availability of this kind of manufacturing, the wrong hands can get ahold of some dangerous parts.

To my knowledge, a very limited amount of criminal activity has occurred through 3D printing. However, that’s not to say that no criminal activity will arise.

3D Printers Drug Ring Police
Related Story
Drug-Smuggling Ring Posted Illegal Substances in 3D Printed Packaging Over the Dark Web
Related Story
Australian Police Confiscate 3D Printed Guns During Raid

What has been done already

To start, an artist has created a 3D design of a key. This isn’t an ordinary key; it is the key which unlocks handcuffs that are currently in use of Dutch police. The design itself was released online, free for anyone to 3D print. The scary thing – this key was created based on a photograph – nothing more.

On a larger scale, one instance involved the manufacturing of a card skimmer which was installed on an ATM. A team of technologically savvy thieves designed a skimming piece, 3D printed it, placed it on the machine, and made some serious cash! This amendment to the ATM gave criminals access to over $400,000!

Controversy on Thingiverse

Another big debate comes from a design placed on Thingiverse. This design consists of a 3D printable lower receiver to an AR-15 machine gun. At least in the United States, it is very easy to obtain virtually any part to an AR-15 over-the-counter aside from the lower receiver. This design on Thingiverse could be the missing piece to bringing unregistered firearms into the United States. Getting ahold of a rifle without a background check could potentially be very dangerous, and 3D printing might be the one to blame.

In addition to the lower receiver of an AR-15 being created, an AR-15 magazine has also been created. With the open source 3D model available for anyone to download at Thingiverse, this magazine could easily be altered. If criminals used 3D printing to create a lower receiver in conjunction with an altered magazine, they could get their hands on undocumented fully automatic weapons with high capacity magazines. Sounds a little bit scary?

Although some of these thoughts seem at least a little bit scary, I think it’s way too early to start regulating 3D printing. Sure, this technology can be used for bad – but aside from the card skimmer, there haven’t been any criminal reports in regards to 3D printing, at least that I know of. In addition to the lack of criminal activity, 3D printing isn’t the only manufacturing technology that thieves or terrorists could get their hands on. Machining in particular could be involved with a variety of replicated firearms and illegal devices, yet the United States government hasn’t done too much to limit that industry.

To the readers, what do you think? What draws the line within 3D printing? Should we be regulating this technology, or are the current laws in place enough? 

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Bambu Lab Partners with Presq to Launch Open-Source 3D-Printed Shoe Designs

Bambu Lab has announced a partnership with Los Angeles-based design-tech studio Presq to release open-source 3D-printed footwear designs. The collaboration aims to provide... read more »

Fashion
Bambu Lab Partners with Presq to Launch Open-Source 3D-Printed Shoe Designs

Graham Rahal Performance Uses Markforged 3D Printer to Create Lamborghini Exhaust Components

Graham Rahal Performance (GRP), a high-performance automotive parts shop in Zionsville, Indiana, has detailed its use of additive manufacturing to produce exhaust components... read more »

Automotive
Graham Rahal Performance Uses Markforged 3D Printer to Create Lamborghini Exhaust Components

Seoul National University Researchers Develop 3D Printable Conductive Nanocomposites for Wearable Sensors

Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology have developed a method to 3D print highly stretchable and electrically conductive materials using... read more »

News
Seoul National University Researchers Develop 3D Printable Conductive Nanocomposites for Wearable Sensors

VRC Metal Systems to Build $1.56M Additive Manufacturing Facility at Barksdale Air Force Base

VRC Metal Systems announced plans to construct a $1.56 million maintenance facility at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. The Additive... read more »

Aerospace

Phasio and Dyndrite Integrate Systems for Automated HP Multi Jet Fusion Workflow

Phasio and Dyndrite announced an integration that automates the workflow for HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing systems from order to print preparation.... read more »

News
Phasio and Dyndrite Integrate Systems for Automated HP Multi Jet Fusion Workflow

Kinectrics and Burloak Technologies Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing for Nuclear Components

Kinectrics, a division of BWX Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), and Burloak Technologies have successfully applied metal additive manufacturing for nuclear energy applications. The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Kinectrics and Burloak Technologies Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing for Nuclear Components

Excamera Labs Develops 3D-Printed Box Assembly Tool for Small-Scale Production

Excamera Labs has created a 3D-printed box forming mandrel to streamline packaging assembly for their TermDriver2 product shipments. The company developed the tool... read more »

News
Excamera Labs Develops 3D-Printed Box Assembly Tool for Small-Scale Production

Ford Uses 3D Printing to Optimize Mustang GTD Aerodynamics for Record Nürburgring Lap

Ford achieved a 6:52.072 lap time with the 2025 Mustang GTD at the Nürburgring in April 2025, placing it among the top 10... read more »

Automotive

Boeing Develops 3D Printed Solar Array Substrate to Cut Production Time by Six Months

Boeing has developed a 3D-printed solar array substrate approach that reduces composite build times by up to six months compared to current production... read more »

News
Boeing Develops 3D Printed Solar Array Substrate to Cut Production Time by Six Months

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing