Are we facing regulated access to 3D printing?
The Atomic Layers: S8E29 (00235)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
I'll tell you this: the biggest threat to the development and adoption of 3D printing technology in the West doesn’t come from China—it lies in the increasing regulations surrounding 3D-printed firearms.
I’ve written about this many times before—the last time was in connection with the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, and the suspect, Luigi Mangione, who allegedly used a partially 3D-printed handgun.
Now, with each new article, I feel like the discussion around 3D printer regulations in the context of firearms is becoming much less general - and much more precise. Just two days ago, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg specifically called on 3D printer manufacturers to take action—singling out Creality by name.
This is escalating—month by month, quarter by quarter. Various ideas are being discussed, such as requiring permits to purchase a 3D printer or software/firmware-level blocks that prevent the printing of certain files.
Let’s start with the Manhattan DA…
On March 27, 2025, Alvin Bragg sent a letter urging 3D printer manufacturers—especially Creality—to implement measures preventing their devices from being used to produce illegal firearms. Bragg emphasized that "ghost guns" are becoming an increasing threat, particularly because many are made using freely available blueprints uploaded to cloud platforms. Creality was singled out because such files were found on 'Creality Cloud'.
In his letter, Bragg pointed to the sharp rise in seized untraceable firearms in New York City—from 17 in 2018 to 438 in 2024. Many of these were allegedly printed using popular models like the Creality Ender 3.
As examples of criminal misuse of this technology, Bragg cited several high-profile cases, including the murder of Brian Thompson.
The DA urged manufacturers to:
Remove firearm blueprints from cloud platforms,
Ban their production in user agreements,
Implement technical safeguards to prevent their creation.
While he did not threaten criminal prosecution, he demanded a meeting with company representatives.
Creality has not commented on the allegations, which could indicate a reluctance to cooperate with authorities.
But what can they realistically do, aside from monitoring their cloud? Automatically deleting files labeled as "gun parts"? 🤡🤪
That’s Manhattan. But on the federal level, the situation is similar.
During Donald Trump’s first term, the issue of ghost guns (3D-printed or not) was not a priority. While he ordered the Department of Justice to review firearm regulations after a series of mass shootings in 2018, no specific 3D printing laws were introduced. The administration focused on traditional firearms, leaving ghost guns largely unregulated.
Things changed under Joe Biden, who in 2021 announced "strict action against untraceable firearms."
In 2022, the ATF introduced new regulations, classifying DIY firearm kits and printed gun parts as firearms—requiring serial numbers. This move was heavily criticized by pro-gun organizations, arguing that the ATF had overstepped its authority.
This legal battle led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling on March 26, 2025, in Bondi v. VanDerStok. The justices, in a 7–2 decision, ruled that the ATF has the right to regulate ghost guns like traditional firearms—meaning printed gun parts are subject to the same laws.
In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch stated that even an unassembled kit could be considered a firearm, effectively closing the "ghost gun loophole."
Moving forward, more legal battles are expected, especially as AI-driven design tools become more involved in 3D printing.
What about Europe?
At the EU level, this topic remains largely unnoticed (or at least nothing is reaching the public discourse).
Given that the EU theoretically faces the threat of war, one would assume that 3D-printed firearms wouldn’t be a major concern. However, the bureaucratic machine often operates independently of citizens' daily realities.
Bottom line: this case is growing.
In the article, I used material collected by on VoxelMatters and Vanesa Listek on 3DPrint.com.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
03-29-2023: Prusa Research presented the Original Prusa MK4.
‘2013 in AM’ - brand new history book! GET IT NOW!
News & Gossip:
Recently, I mentioned few times about the WonderMaker. The Chinese manufacturer will launch its debut 3D printer, the ZR Ultra, on Kickstarter at any moment. It features four independent extruders for multi-material/color printing without purge towers. With a 300×240×290mm build volume, 600mm/s speed, and 20,000mm/s² acceleration, it supports various filaments. Prices range from $549 to $399 (single head). Here is the link to the upcoming campaign.
This news sounds like it's from 2015... Or April’s Fool! US Army engineers develop 3D ice printing technology for Arctic construction. The method uses cellulose-reinforced ice that flows through nozzles yet holds shape before freezing. Successfully tested at -20°C, it built a 7-hour ice shelter and a bridge supporting 3-ton military vehicles. This sustainable approach could revolutionize temporary infrastructure in extreme environments while minimizing environmental impact.
In case you haven’t seen it on LinkedIn: after a little over a year, today I officially return to Centrum Druku 3D—the portal I founded more than 12 years ago. From now on, all my columns will be available in Polish under the series "Codziennik Branży Druku 3D." The word "codziennik" is untranslatable into English—it’s a blend of "everyday" and "journal," which sound very similar in Polish (“codziennie” and “dziennik”).
Anyway, if you’re planning to introduce your AM products or services to Poland, feel free to reach out. I’ll connect you with the right people to make things easier.