Thingiverse Agrees to Remove 3D Printable Gun Designs Amid Growing Safety Concerns

The 3D printing enthusiast portal Thingiverse has agreed to remove downloadable blueprints for firearms from its library at the request of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. However, this move is unlikely to hinder the spread of 3D-printed weaponry, as numerous other platforms continue to offer similar designs, according to a report by the Register.

Bragg previously reached out to 3D printing companies, urging them to ensure their services are not misused for manufacturing firearms. He also announced that Thingiverse would be taking down operational weapon models from its website. The company maintains a free library of 3D model files and has already banned weapons under its platform rules, pledging to enhance its moderation procedures.

Thingiverse has urged users to report any potentially dangerous content.

Law enforcement agencies refer to 3D-printed and other homemade weapons as «ghost guns,» as they are untraceable. U.S. authorities have been working for years to curb their proliferation.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reports that from 2017 to 2021, law enforcement officials transferred nearly 38,000 firearms to the federal agency. Since 2013, there have been 208 instances of gun violence involving ghost guns recorded in the U.S. The man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Luigi Mangione, reportedly used a 3D-printed pistol.

Earlier this year, Bragg requested that 3D printer manufacturer Creality ensure its products could identify firearms and decline to print them. Ongoing negotiations with the company have yet to yield any agreements. Furthermore, Bragg has collaborated with YouTube to restrict access to videos featuring 3D-printed guns on the platform.

Additionally, the prosecutor is advocating for legislation that would classify the 3D printing of firearms as a serious felony, while the distribution of design files would be treated as a major crime.

3D-printed gun enthusiast Sean Aranda told the Register that, in some cases, Thingiverse users steal designs from original creators without providing the necessary manufacturing instructions. Downloading such a design and attempting to work with it can be hazardous. Aranda noted that enthusiasts frequently produce only the serialized parts, sourcing the remaining components separately.

Blueprint-sharing websites like Gatalog report conducting thorough safety checks on all uploaded files. Some online retailers, including Palmetto State Armory, sell firearm parts, while Hoffman Tactical and others offer designs and metal kits.