12-22-2012: Cody Wilson launched DEFCAD.org
The largest archive of 3D-printed gun designs
On December 22, 2012, one of the most pivotal—and controversial—events in 3D printing history occurred. Cody Wilson, a law student from Texas, launched DEFCAD.org, a file-sharing platform hosting blueprints and STL files necessary to 3D print firearms or their critical components. The platform was created in response to the removal of such files from MakerBot's Thingiverse platform just two days earlier.
Cody Wilson had gained notoriety earlier in 2012 as the founder of Defense Distributed, an organization dedicated to creating and distributing firearms that could be manufactured using 3D printers. His efforts sparked worldwide controversy, challenging traditional regulations on firearm access.
Initially, parts for firearms were produced using a uPrint SE 3D printer leased from Stratasys. However, in October 2012, when Wilson's project began attracting attention, Stratasys seized the lease and repossessed the printer, ironically boosting the project's visibility even further.
On December 20, 2012, Thingiverse, run by MakerBot (then independent from Stratasys), removed all firearm-related designs, citing its terms of service prohibiting such content. In response, that same day, Wilson registered the domain DEFCAD.org. Within two days, the platform was operational.
Wilson described DEFCAD.org as a response to the "censorship" implemented by Thingiverse. The site aimed to be a space where users could freely share and download firearm designs, provided the files were free of malware. Initially, DEFCAD.org was in its early stages; users couldn’t upload files directly but could email them to Wilson's team, which then published them on the site. Within its first days, the platform featured 14 designs, with more queued for upload.
The platform became fully functional on March 12, 2013. One of the most notable uploads was the Liberator, the first fully functional 3D-printed plastic pistol. This design was downloaded tens of thousands of times within just a few days.
Although it may be awkward to acknowledge today, Cody Wilson and his projects were significant drivers of public interest in 3D printing during that era. Many individuals who entered the 3D printing industry in 2012 and 2013 did so after hearing about these developments.
Yes, I was one of those people. While I never planned to print firearms (the designs seemed unserious from the start), it was a trigger that sparked my 12-year career in this field. Funny how life works, isn’t it?
Source: www.3ders.o