3D Printing & CNC Manufacturing Laws, Research Digest

Date saved: 2026-10-19 03:00 (PDT)

Sources: Washington State Legislature, Congress.gov, PCMag, PC Mag UK

Key findings

Washington State Legislature (2026): HB 2320, signed into law, prohibits the manufacturing of certain firearms and firearm components through the use of a three-dimensional printer or computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine, subject to exceptions. The law prohibits the sale, transfer, or distribution of certain digital firearm manufacturing code. It restricts: (1) the sale, transfer, and distribution of digital firearm manufacturing code; and (2) manufacturing frames and receivers and unfinished frames and receivers through the use of a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, or other means. No person may manufacture, including by use of a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, or other means, any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, or any part designed for converting a weapon into those categories. No person may knowingly or recklessly manufacture a frame or receiver by use of a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, or other means, unless licensed to manufacture firearms under federal law. No person may sell, transfer, distribute, or offer to sell digital firearm manufacturing code. The law defines "digital firearm manufacturing code" as any digital instructions in the form of CAD files or other code that may be used to program a 3D printer or CNC milling machine to manufacture a firearm, frame, receiver, magazine, or unlawful firearm part. (Source)

Congress.gov (2025-2026): The 3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2025 (H.R. 4143 in the House, S. 2165 in the Senate) would amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the distribution of 3D printer plans for the printing of firearms. It would make it unlawful for any person to intentionally distribute, over the internet or by means of the World Wide Web, digital instructions in the form of CAD files or other code that can automatically program a 3-dimensional printer or similar device to produce a firearm or complete a firearm from an unfinished frame or receiver. Introduced June 25, 2025. (Source)

PCMag (2026): With the passage of Washington's HB 2320, the state reached upstream into the ecosystem that makes ghost guns possible, regulating digital firearm files, restricting their distribution, and explicitly pulling 3D printers and CNC machines into the legal framework. California has moved in a similar direction with AB 1263, which expands liability for those who facilitate or distribute digital firearm manufacturing code, and with the proposed AB 2047, which would require 3D printers sold in the state to include blocking technology capable of detecting and preventing the production of firearm components, uploaded parts files would be reviewed by AI programs with an additional layer of human intervention. A first-of-its-kind law in New York, signed in May, requires that blocking tech; Colorado's HB26-1144, signed into law, takes a more direct route, criminalizing the manufacture of certain firearms and parts using 3D printing. California's proposed AB 2047 would require printers to actively scan and block certain designs. (Source)

PCMag UK: The enactment of HB 2320 signifies more than just an effort to regulate untraceable firearms, it extends its reach upstream, regulating the digital files necessary for firearm creation, limiting their distribution, and explicitly including 3D printers and CNC machines within the legal framework. In both California and New York, legislators are considering proposals that would require printers to recognize and reject weapon components. If these measures pass, uploaded design files would be scrutinized by AI programs, supplemented by human oversight. (Source)