ARDEC 3D prints their own 40mm blooper
Produced in a joint collaboration between the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, the U.S. Army Manufacturing Technology Program and America Makes, the group used additive manufacturing techniques to craft a direct copy of the M203A1 40mm grenade launcher commonly mounted under the M16/M4 series rifles.
Every part of the weapon, save for the springs and some fasteners, was sintered in aluminum or printed in 4340 alloy steel in 35 hours of production.
Of the more than 50 parts of the M203A1, ARDEC was able to 3D print about 90 percent from scratch
The project name? RAMBO (Rapid Additively Manufactured Ballistics Ordnance)
Andi it has even fired 3D printed grenades to prove it works.