#Materials

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory (CCDC ARL),  has developed a novel type of polymer filament. This is said to be capable of offering the performance of injection molded ABS on components printed with low-cost extrusion 3D printers. This advancement may achieve the goal of providing troops with the means of manufacturing, fast and inexpensively, vital parts in the field, instead of waiting for long delivery lead times.

Earlier here at TFB, we mentioned in an article regarding some new developments in metallurgy that titanium has not traditionally been used as a material for firearms manufacture due to the difficulty and expense of working it. This is true, but it’s also true that techniques have been developed that substantially help reduce the time and cost of working titanium, and one recent product of gun manufacturer Robar being shown off at RecoilWeb is proof of that: An AR-15 using polymer upper and lower receivers, and some titanium components that tips the scale at just four and three-quarters pounds. Expected MSRP? Less than two grand:

Light? Strong? Tough? Cheap? A new material developed in Korea promises all of the above, and could throw open wide doors in many industries, including small arms development.