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3D printing threatens the nation

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson has expressed concern about the effects that the nascent boom in 3D printing may have on the nation's security and the governments revenues.

It seems however, that Mr Williamson is getting a little ahead of himself when he suggests that people might be able to print drugs and other prohibited substances.

Has Maurice ever actually seen a contemporary consumer-grade 3D printer?

Based on his comments, I suspect not.

Although he is correct in suggesting that eventually 3D printers will become a ubiquitous piece of home technology, there's a *huge* void between what is effectively a hot glue gun on a 3-axis CNC table -- and a device capable of synthesizing any chemical to order.

Then again, as we've seen so often, politicians are seldom likely to let facts get in the way of a good story -- especially when that story may eventually result in the imposition of a new tax or even a total ban on something.

According to Williamson, these 3D printers pose a huge threat to our border security, effectively allowing all manner of prohibited items to be "imported" over the Net as a series of 1s and 0s that will be reconstituted as a real-world item.

Apparently we'll be able to download guns for instance.

Um, excuse me - but you can already download guns.

Anyone with a CNC lathe and milling machine can download a set of machine commands that, when fed to the right machine with the right tooling and raw materials in place, could create a gun of far greater capabilities than something which is printed from ABS plastic.

I wonder if there was the same concern and worry when CNC technology became affordable?

Right now there are probably hundreds (maybe thousands) of CNC lathes and milling machines out there, many of which are in the hands of hobbyists. Oh the humanity!

As for drugs -- well it seems that our criminal alchemists seem quite capable of baking their own product from a recipe that could be circulated by email -- thus bypassing border security.

At least Williamson is consistent in his stupidity when it comes to technology issues. A quick check of the archives reveals that he won the coveted "Lemon of the Year" award back in 1998 -- some 15 years ago, and hasn't improved one jot since.

And in 2004, Maurice came out and told us that he was sure the "vast majority of New Zealanders" would have no problems accepting a national ID card.

Need a little more background on the Nats tech-dullard?

How about this from 2000?

So perhaps, before Williamson goes off laying the ground work for control and regulation of 3D printers (which is doubtless an option being tossed around), he might want to actually see how limited these things are right now.

Let's not forget, if you really want a plastic gun, our toy stores are already filled with them and if you want some mind-altering substance you need only drop by the nearest tinny house or even your local dairy.

Should we pre-emptively regulate 3D printing technology?

If so, ought we also regulate the tools that can be easily used to make firearms -- after all, my workshop is filled with them. And didn't I build a cruise missile using parts from the local hardware store?

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