In what is thought to be the first such discovery, Greater Manchester Police officers found a plastic trigger (top image) and clip capable of holding bullets, which they believe had been 3D-printed using a MakerBot Replicator 2 that was also discovered at the property.
If verified, the discovery "demonstrates that organised crime groups are acquiring technology that can be bought on the high street to produce the next generation of weapons," said detective inspector Chris Mossop of the city's organised crime unit.
Update: Greater Manchester Police issued a new statement following these claims after the 3D-printing community pointed out they may be harmless printer upgrade parts.
"This is a really significant discovery for Greater Manchester Police," said Mossop. "In theory, the technology essentially allows offenders to produce their own guns in the privacy of their own home, which they can then supply to the criminal gangs who are causing such misery in our communities. Because they are also plastic and can avoid X-ray detection, it makes them easy to conceal and smuggle."
Forensic experts are analysing whether the parts found could be used to make a working weapon, but Greater Manchester Police already believe this is the first discovery of 3D-printed gun parts in the UK.
quoting a Makerbot expert
Ok, this is kinda messed up. The top image looks more like an extruder upgrade to me, and the bottom "3D clip" is a dead ringer for a filament spool holder - the T-shaped bit of it is the give-away.