Bermudian creates printed ‘peace gun’

A Bermudian student has created what is thought to be the world’s first 3-D printed UN (United Nations)  ‘peace gun’.

Karen Marino, 16, was inspired to create the plastic gun for a school project at Mount Saint Agnes Academy on the United Nations.

She enlisted the help of Steven Doyling, a teacher at The Interactive Learning Center — a technological resource centre based at the Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Mr Doyling said: “We think this is the first 3-D printed United Nations ‘peace gun’. 

“We completed the project using collaboration software that enabled me to share my computer screen with Karen, and hers with me.

“First of all, we had to create a design of the UN gun, using CAD software. The design was taken from two photos of the ‘peace gun’, and this was the most challenging part.

“But we were able to link up our two computers online and so I was able to demonstrate how to make the design, with the CAD software. From there, we transferred the design on to  MakerWare software, which then transmits the file to the 3-D printer.

“This then prints out the object, layer on layer, with plastic.”

Mr Doyling said: “The project was an example of using collaboration technology and critical thinking skills. 

“I have put the design online so that anyone in the world can now print out the ‘peace gun’ for free, at thingiverse.com. They just have to chip off the vertical supports which make the barrel ‘stand up’.”

The ‘peace gun’ is a copy of the ‘Knotted Gun’, a sculpture outside the United Nations by Fredrik Reutersward. It depicts a pistol with the barrel tied in a knot and is a symbol of peace and non-violence. 

Karen said: “I had to come up with a symbol of UN peacekeeping for my Social Studies class. I’ve always loved the peace gun outside the UN and its message about reducing gun violence.

“I thought it would be cool to do my project using a 3-D printer, rather than working with clay, which I’ve done so many times before.

“It was a lot of work but it was really worth it. Everyone at school loves it. They find it interesting to see how something can be printed in 3-D.” 

Karen’s mother, Ximena Marshall, of St David’s, said: “Mr Doyling had never printed a project like this before and so it was exciting; it was an adventure for all of us.”

The Interactive Learning Center’s winter camp for students from December 23-24 and then December 30-January 30. Call 533-4452 for more info.