What would you make if you had a 3D printer?

[wonderwolf]

I've casually kicked around the idea of getting a 3D printer to do some one off projects I've kind of had in mind. I realize the 3d printed stuff is not intended to be used for any kind of production volume when used as a tool or jig or some such depending on the application but its still kind of neat to think that something could be "printed" up that we could put to good use and only limited to our imagination. Kind of like a lazy mans CNC

anyways some of the things I've thought would be neat to make

- .410 conversion for the Lee load all press
- .22 " side saddle" for various single shot guns , a friend of mine has used 1/4" bit holders in the past but a purpose built one would be nice
- mooning/demooning tool that doesn't cost $100

etc

[357Mag]

Wonderwolf -

Howdy !

If the machine could accomodate it:
- Probably a custom stock of my own design, to fit by accuracy bolt rifle.
- Some custom grips for my 4" "N"-frame .357Mag
- Custom holsters, perhaps laid-out as a " sheet ", then glued / rivited together
- A single-load feed ramp, for my .35 Rem M-336 XLR
- A bore guide for my M-336 XLR
- Gun case w/ snap-together hinge line

.... Still thinkin'.....


With regards,
357Mag

[Expat74]

A better primer chute for my RC.. the plotter file floats around on the net somewhere

[HollowPoint]

I came real close to buying a 3D printer last year. I have several ideas for useful and practical projects. Some are gun related and some are not.

My reason for not buying was because, like computers, no sooner do you take delivery of your expensive new electronic gadget that you find out that an even better 3D printer has just hit the market; and at a far lower price. I'm going to wait till the prices come down a little more before buying one. In the mean time I'll just keep on dreaming of new things I can make with one.

My list of project are as follows: This is assuming that we're talking about a "Large-Format" 3D printer. I already have the CAD files made up for most of my ideas.

(1) Pellet-Sizer to size the skirts of my air rifle ammo to the same diameter.

(2) Brass-Catcher to catch the brass as it ejects from my hand guns while at the range or in the field. It's attached to my wrist and forearm and it holds a small cage-like basket just above the ejection port of my hand gun. When I'm shooting, I hate having to bend over and hunt for my empties. I lost to much brass because of this.

(3) Re-designed Stocks for my Lee Enfield No.4 MkI. I'd like to print it with some of the simulated wood media that's available.

(4) To many ideas to list.

My dream 3D printer would be a DMLS metal laser printer. I drool when I think of the stuff I could make with one of these 3D printer.

HollowPoint

[Expat74]

Like the brass catcher idea! Rather buying one and finding it outdated.. there might be printing services available on the net where you send a CAD file and they print it for you.

[flyingmonkey35]

I already asked smoke but when don't have one to play with.

A updated version of the Lee auto prime ii /2.

I could use

A modified bullet feeding system for a inverted press for a sizing die Lee push thru.

Mec. Powder bushings.

Love the idea of a .410 for the Lee load all. I'd buy that.

Soo much...

[wonderwolf]

Stock parts for some of our fancy small bore rifle "chasis" systems. adjustable stock parts and such.

Along the airgun pellet idea I saw a guy at our club who is really into air guns with a picatinny rail mounted rotary dispenser that you twist and it dropped a pellet into your hand it was 3d printed and was one of the first things I'd ever seen that was made on such a device.

I've read a little on the kinds of plastics and which machines are better for prototyping and which are better for actual use of the items but I'm not sure what would work best for the sizers etc, you could always make it so you could fit a steel bushing or other such in a "die" that would thread into a press etc.

Sight parts and prototype sights are something that would really appeal to me as well. Seems like most of the factory iron sights these days really lack efficacy.


.357mag I was thinking about grips as well for revolvers, I have a blackhawk that I really want to try some other designs of grips on but I'm wondering how slick the printed material is. I suppose one could always put some bicycle inner tube around it to make it grippier if needed.

Lots of neat ideas...tons more out there, Not really trying to justify one yet myself. would have to learn a CAD program and then the "art" part of getting the printing to come out as desired. As I understand it the science is easy but it takes some tricks to get good results. The thing that got me thinking about the 3d printer again is over the weekend I saw a trigger training aid that "clicks" (had a ww2 style cricket installed) when you pull back and when you release installed in a 10/22 stock. would be great to have 1 or 3 of them for home use in dry firing practice and for our various club classes and courses to train on trigger control for dummy rifles. I like to help Jr's out whenever I can and having such a dummy gun set up they could take home and practice dry firing over and over again would be well worth it. I researched it a bit and saw the guy who was selling them at one point actually made one style that could be adjusted for pull weight from 1.5-5.5lbs....pretty slick!

[nicholst55]

Primer catchers for the old Lyman Spartan and Spar-T presses. I would then offer them for sale.

[bearcove]

Sell it.

[JSnover]

I'd make some very interesting molds.

[chsparkman]

Magazines for my Remington 581 and 591. Perhaps a jig to make wooden fly boxes.

[mikeORB]

I like the spent shell catcher for sure!!!

[OBIII]

Since my bout with Sepsis, some prosthetic fingers. After that, work on a .22LR mini gun. :)

OB

[HollowPoint]

Magazines for my Remington 581 and 591. Perhaps a jig to make wooden fly boxes.

Magazines for Tikka, my Enfield and My K31 are also on my list of 3D print projects. Buying these same factory magazines online can cost a small fortune. Printing them up with extended capacity Is what I had in mind. All I need is a 3D printer and I can start printing.

HollowPoint

[Boolit_Head]

Right now I would make a throw lever for my scope. Seems no one makes one and it's exceptionally stiff. The breakway coasters used for reels seem like that is the only thing that will fit the Nikons.

[wonderwolf]

I'd make some very interesting molds.

I wonder if you could make molds slippery enough for gloolits? hmmmm

[Artful]

I'd try my hand at some suppressors in Titanium!

Like ChrisF does in Eurostan


Hi Guys ,


Here's some pics on the new 338LM model & new 30 cal reinforced model for 308 & 300WM .
Shot on 3 AI rifles , AW , AWM & AX338 , using the 2 chamber AI Tac brake , testing done to milspec with calibrated correct meter etc .
As to data , will have to wait till the designer emails me the raw data in a spread sheet .


Oceania Defence Ltd , have exported to Canada & UK so far & plan on making them in the US as well .


They have sent a direct thread version of the AI 338LM can to Canada for trials on the Timberwolf SWS & some small 223 cans to the Police their as well , so if they like them , then you will see quite a few ODL cans in Canada , even thou the civies in Canada are not allowed suppressors .


Later Chris


http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d90/phoenix63/DSC08821_zpssed4tsoh.jpg (http://s33.photobucket.com/user/phoenix63/media/DSC08821_zpssed4tsoh.jpg.html)


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[HollowPoint]

If we're talking about metal sintering 3D lasers, I think they would be able to print titanium, inconel and stainless steel suppressor baffles with geometries far superior in sound dampening properties than those made by conventional milling processes.

For the outside tubes and such I'd stick with conventionally made tubing and end caps; at least for making user serviceable suppressors. If a completely enclosed suppressor was printed, regardless of the metal powder used, just by virtue of the 3D printing process, the can itself would be filled with the un-sintered metal powder and although most could be flushed out, there would still be that lingering suspicion that maybe; just maybe some remained to possibly cause problems.

I guess if we're just fantasizing, we could also include an X-raying process to make sure that all the internal geometry was formed perfectly and all the excess metal powder was removed before firing.

HollowPoint

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

Brevex double square bridge magnum mauser actions and the necessary pieces.

[Whiterabbit]

I wonder if you could make molds slippery enough for gloolits? hmmmm

GLUElits? nope. I'd 3d print bullets for use with primer-only cases for equivalent use. Kinda like gluelits but just push a button and reload the (expensive) plastic spool and out they pop.

[andrew375]

Go to thingiverse.org for things like weaver rail, camera mounts, grips and lots more! Of course what you will make will be plastic and not even solid. The plastic extruder 3D printers make the item as a hollow shell filled with a support lattice.

[ProfGAB101]

A bullet flipper that goes inline from the feed tube of the Hornady bullet collator to feed clean lead slugs into my Star Sizer. Have the design and if my CNC Mill were running I'd make one that way. Problem is half the mill is still at the old shop and the trailer I need won't be back until Dec 19th. Anyway - I'm aiming for a TIKO 3D when the Kickstarter finishes.

[Just Duke]

The parts are pretty fragile.

[Wayne Smith]

Primer mechanism for my Brown Bair press.

[Just Duke]

I had that one in the 70's

[country gent]

I could see alot of odds and ends. loading enhancment tools for sharps and other single shots. Clip on sight covers and protectors. A primer tray desighned for filling primer tubes. Trigger shoes. Various tools and equipment.

[bruce drake]

http://www.cnet.com/news/maker-3d-prints-himself-a-prosthetic-flexing-fingertip/

They are being made already. Find a local college and see if one of their engineering students would like to duplicate it as a project.


Since my bout with Sepsis, some prosthetic fingers. After that, work on a .22LR mini gun. :)

OB

[bangerjim]

The cheapo printers now hitting the consumer market are NOT the ones you see in TV and in the movies. Things "printed" are thin, flimsy, hollow, and are almost classified as toys.

That is what I would make.........TOYS! Nothing else.

[paul h]

To me the appeal would be making cores for sand casting metal. Cores don't have to be that strong.

[bangerjim]

To me the appeal would be making cores for sand casting metal. Cores don't have to be that strong.

That is the real ONLY use I could ever see for consumer-grade 3D printers. Right now, I either use the real item or carve/shape/turn a pattern for casting. If I was doing casting for a living, it would sure be cool to have a digital library of "stuff" to draw from. But I assume some clown out there wants to charge for it, just like every thing else on the net. And I hate using AutoCAD and other 3D drafting programs.

[pretzelxx]

Army men with things other than an AT4 and muskets. Things like fallen down pants sniper guy hip firing a Barrett, "carl" stupid situation guys.. Fun stuff to strap m80s to, you know!

[JeffinNZ]

Another 3D printer. :bigsmyl2:

[hickstick_10]

Sell it.

You must have actually stood there and seen what they can actually do, not a heck of a lot. Over hyped technology that's been stagnant for decades.

Id offload the best 3D printer money could buy for a good 5th axis CNC and a live tooling lathe in a heartbeat.

[MTSWAGER]

154245

[MTSWAGER]

I love my 3d printer, Made all kinds of Glock and AR base pads, +5 and +2. All kinds of colors including glow in the dark. They do have a few small things to watch out for, but overall have worked great.

Tons of printing material options, including carbon fiber mixes and nylons, some are very strong.

Working on designing a mini case feeder/auto core loader for my 22 rim fire bullet making, as well as a length sorter for matching jacket lengths.

I can adjust the wall thickness and infill on my slicing program, even make solid parts. Sky is the limit. Just need to take the time to research and learn about 3D printing. I can make Very good usable items, not as good as a metal part, but plenty usable.

I also made some Lighted beer taps for a friend. Using some clear opaque type filaments. Made several guys RC Heli, car and quad copter parts also.

[flyingmonkey35]

That is the real ONLY use I could ever see for consumer-grade 3D printers. Right now, I either use the real item or carve/shape/turn a pattern for casting. If I was doing casting for a living, it would sure be cool to have a digital library of "stuff" to draw from. But I assume some clown out there wants to charge for it, just like every thing else on the net. And I hate using AutoCAD and other 3D drafting programs.
So if you were to say print a AR lower then sand cast with aluminum?

One would only need to polish and tap the buffer treads.

[10x]

Sabots for bullets comes to mind.
Lee type dipper powder measures.
Front sights, receiver sights.
A magazine for my 1889 Swiss 30-30.
Butt plates for obsolete guns.

Chamber adapters for 26.5 flare guns so folks can use bear bangers (I get thse CNC machined now)
And chamber adapters for the old Very pistols to use bear bangers.

The list is endless

My friend's grandson built a 3D printer using parts from 3 inkjet printers. Apparently easy to build but a real interesting challenge to program.
The kid is now in first year engineering.

[SSGOldfart]

Just a few plastic wadcutters for the 38spl so they can be loaded with your thumb pressure in every day brass and fired using a primer.

[jmorris]

A p90.

[LuckyDog]

Nobade WINS

[wonderwolf]

Nobade WINS
YUP threads closed we're done here :)

[rondog]

Zero interest in them. None, nada, zip, zilch. Although Nobade does have a good point.....

[Springfield0612]

Here are some items being sold by one of our site sponsors! Ii've bought a couple and they work great!

http://www.titanreloading.com/powder-handling-equipment/titan-round-powder-baffle

http://www.titanreloading.com/powder-handling-equipment/titan-micro-charge

http://www.titanreloading.com/reloading-die-accessories/titan-lock-nut-finger-wrench

http://www.titanreloading.com/press-accessories/titan-primer-chute

http://www.titanreloading.com/press-accessories/titan-pro-1000-primer-director

http://www.titanreloading.com/press-accessories/titan-tube-harness

[W.R.Buchanan]

Nobade Beat me to it!

Randy

[upnorthwis]

I'd make the cutoff lever for my neighbors 71/84 Mauser. Everywhere I look they are Out of Stock. Would also make parts for a shooter at the gun club who is paralyzed from the mid-back down. He needs special parts to be able to pull the trigger and although I can make them on a mill, a rotary table would make them better. And I don't have a rotary table. The guy shoots skeet and has to rest the forend on the back of his left hand and has to pull the trigger with the back of his right hand. I make the trigger extensions that extend out the side of the trigger guard.

[Russ303]

Die stands and tool holder

[paintedrat]

Large bore single-stack AR mag followers, primer catch tray for Lee Pro 1000, labeled holder for brass expander plugs, misc soft parts, small scale media separator, toys for the kiddos.

[Clark]

My neighbor has using my mill and lathe for building an R2D2 robot in my shop.
He as ~ $30k into it.
He bought a 3D printer and has made some parts.
The female threads smaller than 1/4-20 do not print well.
We are still doing convention drill and tap on small holes.

[jmorris]

Maybe NOT
http://www.ba-bamail.com/video.aspx?emailid=6748


Here is another similar but without 3d printing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQtL2AZt7w

[Artful]

Yep, I know - I posted it when Jerry added it to his channel
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?296962-Impressive-young-man

[ArrowJ]

I have seen the primer catchers for RCBSC, but the Redding Big Boss II and Lee Classic Cast have a hollow ram. Even with this system primers pop out the priming arm slot fairly regularly. I do not want to close it up as I am going to use it. Right now I stick a piece of foam in there, but I think a small piece could be printed with a lip that slides into the top of the ram right behind the shell holder so it would not fall down the ram.

[dagunnut]

Dummy rounds/snap caps, length gauges, O.A.L. cartridges to speed up die set up, trim fixtures, non-marring jags for gun cleaning, colored sight inserts for AR and others, HP drilling fixture, barrel cleaning guides, heck you could make your own volume type powder dispenser/measure with custom charge bushings, there are endless opportunities.

[Ural Driver]

First I would build, another 3D printer to have in reserve for when I wore this one out.......:idea:

[Black Beard]

A primer deflector for my Lee single stage press that doesn't have the arm on the side and priming attachment. So it stays in place and just deflects primers when I am depriming. I could just grind the unused bits that come with the press but it seems like a waste. Or Mr Lee could make one and sell it for very little.

[wonderwolf]

A ceiling mount bracket for our epson projector.....new apartment has some quirks were trying to deal with still.

I'm still wanting a 3d printer and after seeing a metal laser engraver I would like one of those as well. Be a good way to mark my magazines for matches. Right now we just use paint pens and that lasts for a little while but its far from idea.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Diamonds! all it takes is Carbon for a media.

Randy

[ArrowJ]

The LoaderTools group on Facebook is run by a guy that sells 3D printed stuff. Most of it I have seen other places, but he did have primer directors for the cutout in my Redding Big Boss II.

[Multigunner]

Misuse of 3D printers can be disastrous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69SsHvZ5Vsk

[victorfox]

You must have actually stood there and seen what they can actually do, not a heck of a lot. Over hyped technology that's been stagnant for decades.

Id offload the best 3D printer money could buy for a good 5th axis CNC and a live tooling lathe in a heartbeat.

I dislike plastic so much I'm with you all. I'd rather have a lathe, drill press, and the traditional tools. I'm the type of guy who doesn't go and buy a Glock, but a 1911... All my guns have wooden stock too. [smilie=p:

[RugerFanOH]

Holsters?

[CPTCUFFS]

I would want a speed loader for my wife's Ruger snub.

[Rcmaveric]

I also really want case gauges.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[Dieselhorses]

I also really want case gauges.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

That's exactly what I want! It is possible although I haven't dealt with one of these printers yet but will be soon!

[Mr_Sheesh]

Case gauges should be doable, you will HAVE to compensate for the filament shrinking though, or perhaps use a resin printer as maybe no shrinkage on those? Soon as I move hoping to get a resin printer.

[Rcmaveric]

That will be my next project. Parametric case gauges.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[Mr_Sheesh]

I have been working on that slowly, have a way to represent any case in OpenSCAD but dang it's kinda involved putting all the data in (Partly because some measurements are implied rather than specified, usually around the extraction end of cases, which is OK. Extraction works so long as it's not TOO sloppy a groove etc.)

Part of that being for finding donor cases for pistol shotshells & etc.

[sharps4590]

Heck, I can't even get my plain paper printer to work. Lord only knows what monster I'd end up with if I had a 3-D printer.

[GWS]

That's funny! This is the "monster" I ended up with after a grandson begged for one.....my second print....if I can 3D print anybody can.

https://i.postimg.cc/d0W9rhnz/T-Rex-1.jpg

[Shanghai Jack]

That's funny! This is the "monster" I ended up with after a grandson begged for one.....my second print....if I can 3D print anybody can.

https://i.postimg.cc/d0W9rhnz/T-Rex-1.jpg

that's impressive.

I guess Id print a 3d printer and then try to take over the world.

285690

[Dunross]

A stripper clip guide to allow one to load 7.62x39 AR mags from SKS strippers in the way one can use a "stripper spoon" to load .223/5.56 AR mags from stripper clips.