3D printing liability

We do 3D printing at A&A, and we have been really careful in the terms and conditions on this. We sell a service that is renting the use of the 3D printing kit, with staff to run it, and selling the materials. We don't sell the finished item, and we make it clear that the customer is the party that manufactured the item using our services. We even require the customer to indemnify us against any claims.

This may seem somewhat over the top, and I would agree, but the laws on manufacturing are scary!

We, if we were manufacturers, could be liable for all sorts of shit, not least of which revolves around copyright and patent and registered design issues, but also things like CE marking, and toy safety and food product safety. It is mental. No way we want to be involved in any of that. We are not "manufacturers" if we can help it!

We have done a few 3D jobs, and mostly fun things, and even some robot heads for a university project. Nothing that gets close to any liability. Long may it be so... A&A are pretty good at this if you want any 3D printing done.

But today I had an unusual job request, and it was one that made me think of all the possible liability issues, for me and A&A. What was unusual is it was a request from my grandson, age 8, and so not someone A&A could, or would, engage in any contract. This makes it personal!

This was the design brief...

To clarify - that is drawn on some cardboard and cut out. It is a "knife" or "sword" that he wants. Something related to a game or TV show. I know he is in to Assassin's Creed, but this may be related to some show called" Forged in Fire".

So I made a blade and a handle...

The blade is printed in 20% Carbon Fibre PLA, and actually very strong. The handle in wood filled PLA. The end result is quite nice. But to be clear, this is a plastic toy knife!

The problem is that the result is pretty solid and strong. I really do not know if it could cause injury or not. It is a "toy" for him. I "made" it as a toy, or did I let him instruct me such that he "made" it? If, legally, I was responsible in some way, it would be easy to have have him drive the computer and make him the actual manufacturer. Let's assume we did that, for now.

It raises a lot of questions - can a 3D printed "knife" be an effective offensive weapon? Who made it? What next?

Well, he knows to "be careful" with it. I think I have designed it to be "pretty blunt" at the tip to try and ensure it is not actually dangerous. As I say, it is a plastic toy knife.

But what if someone made something that really was dangerous? What then? This is not a simple issue.