California’s Polymaker Lawsuit Raises Questions About the Future of 3D Printing

Cover photo from Siraya Tech

San Diego County has filed a lawsuit against Polymaker, a major manufacturer of 3D-printing filament, alleging the company deliberately marketed its products to people manufacturing unserialized firearms. The case comes as California moves forward with AB 2047, legislation addressing technology designed to prevent 3D printers from producing certain prohibited firearms.

This is an issue I want to investigate further because the implications could extend beyond firearms. If governments can require technology that determines what a 3D printer can produce, what does that mean for personal manufacturing, consumer privacy, and other legitimate uses of the technology? I want to examine the lawsuit, the legislation, and the technology involved before drawing firm conclusions. In the meantime, you can read the court filing and related case information here.