Plus having spare parts is never a bad thing.
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I have decided to buy a Mark 7 Apex 10 press to upgrade the bench. I will outfit it with a 3d printed bullet feeder. I will run it manual for a few thousand rounds to ensure it is dialed in and working flawless and the put an auto-drive on it. Does anyone have an Apex10?
I see it ships with a mount for a MBF and wondering if anyone has crafted a mount for the 3dBF for it?
I only know one who has bought that press.....and he doesn't come by the forum anymore.....I'll email him and see what he did.;) Maybe he'll come by and post something tomorrow......He's the talented guy who created the "Manual" for TylerR.....
Shoot, I joined the forum years ago to make collators I couldn't afford otherwise.....or at least justify the expense. A Mark 7 is way above my needs....on the same order of thinking.....IOW's I need to stay in the cheap seats.;)
That was quick.....he just emailed me back with this: "I am using an official Mr. Bullet Feeder on my press as I wanted to minimize "hiccups" during full automation. I am not sure if the 3D project has a comparable mount, but please have a look at the picture I have sent. It might help approximate/locate a comparable mount from the project files.
TylerR.....any ideas? Anything you have in the downloads work with that? Below is the picture he sent:
https://i.postimg.cc/13MyjFVn/20230823-223836.jpg
When you get the press take pictures of the mount and measure the diameter of the hole the pivoting bolt goes through and we could probably design a plate connected to it to fasten to the bottom left holes in 3D printed collator base.
Update: the bolt size is M8 so the Dillon mount hole size of 10mm is perfect......but my original idea was too spread out and encroached on the drop hole and motor mount holes.....so I had to make it a lot smaller. First picture below shows where the new size fits. Second picture is the part in the orientation you would print it.
https://i.postimg.cc/zvjvnMkc/test-1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/kMF236dv/test-2.jpg
Thank you so very much mate!
Here is the speedcontroller I am looking at, do you think something like this could/would work as replacement and give a nice display/button alternative?
Thanks for the tip GillieDog, and yes, I think I can tweak the current box a touch to fit some funky stuff :)
Looking at it more it seems like this half of the dillon mount could be used by adding a spacer with little modification.
https://github.com/BF556/Feeder/blob...illon_Hang.stl
You are right......I pulled the cylinder out is all and it looks like this:
https://i.postimg.cc/02gZKx1W/Test-3.jpg
Maybe move the cylinder down the side closer to the bottom to get it closer to their DAA mount position (raising the collator). The only other change I'd make is use the holes on top to resist better the weight of the bullet collator full of bullets. What do you bet that since this Mark 7 press started out emulating a Dillon that the Dillon Bolt might just be the same diameter.....but still safer to know what Lyman is using for sure.....waiting on our friend to let me know the dia. ;)
Update: a shorter version closer to DAA mount position: .....great idea TylerR!
Upper holes I would drill into the base to make it handle the weight.
https://i.postimg.cc/mrLs9DnB/Mk7_TylerR_Mount_Base.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/6QMNfKsR/Mk7-Tyler-R-Mount.jpg
Better....no supports!
I know, I know...................
I had to make a cheat sheet just to keep a list of the improvements you guys are doing so I can remember to update to them.
Give my old brain cells a headache.
However, keep it up guys, I am with you.
GD
GWS thank you for the insight. As you can tell I do have a bit of money. I do the printed stuff because I am an engineer and I like to be able to fix my own stuff and hate relying on customer service to get back up and running WHEN stuff goes sideways.
I shoot ALOT and this and hunting is all I do so ..
All you do.....then you must be on the retired side....good deal. Me? Similar but architectural, and the 3D printer is a good hobby in a hobby. Keeps me sharper.
These two designs are way different and both could work with a little tweaking.....the first one needs to be shortened a little, because I was guessing. Then TylerR added an idea so I tried that....but that one will be a pain to print the way it is currently....more development needed.
I was thinking the first one could be printed vertically with the tube on top....but again since I don't have your press to test with, guesses.....and TylerR's design, based on his collator so the bottom holes are right, shows it needs to be shortened a bit.
Assuming you have used cad being an engineer.....so ideas (insight) is probably all you need as you learn making .stl files and convert them to .gcode files you print with.
I have used Autocad for 50 years, but TylerR made this whole project mostly with DesignSpark Mechanical, with a little help from Openscad, a programmers cad, on the collator plates. In the interest to be more compatible with his work, I downloaded those two "free" versions and learned them....and that's where we are. ;) Good luck with your coming new press.
Update: He answered the following:
Quote:
I believe it uses a 5/16" bolt as the Mr. Bullet Feeder manual says that it uses an M8 screw which I verified. M8 converts closest to 5/16" as far as I know.
So i'm thinking 10mm diameter hole as used in the Dillon mount is perfect for it.
I've had to redo my flat version as I was forgetting there's the main drop tube it encroaches on and a motor ;).....so your version is the only option for now. will erase the "wishful thinking" pictures.....doh. ;)
Anybody else having trouble with CastBoolits becoming a slug? What's going on.....only site I use that does that. Tonight its fast again, in the daytime....takes several minutes to load or save or do anything.....
That mount can be printed without supports, like this.
Attachment 317391
Just need to know how long the cylinder should be to fit the Mark 7 best.
I think about 2" would do fine. But bracket is too long.....why I shortened it....and dropped the cylinder to the top inside of the "L".
But I'm withdrawing what I've done....since the point was ideas not products.....and I don't have the press. So that's done, Carry on.:)
I'm about done with CastBoolits.....can't abide by this up and down performance. I'll check back in a week or so to see it they found a cure.......none of the other forums are having this problem, but I'm not going to wait 10 minutes to save something only to have it "time-out" half the time before its done.
But bracket is too long.....why I shortened it.... What is the issue with it extending to the top of the collator like usual?
and dropped the cylinder to the top inside of the "L". I did lower the cylinder close to the bottom.
But I'm withdrawing what I've done....since the point was ideas not products.....and I don't have the press. So that's done, Carry on.:) I am done fiddling with it unless we get more feedback from a Mark 7 owner
I'm about done with CastBoolits.....can't abide by this up and down performance. I'll check back in a week or so to see it they found a cure.......none of the other forums are having this problem, but I'm not going to wait 10 minutes to save something only to have it "time-out" half the time before its done. Agreed! It's painful.
Feel free to email me any thoughts you have instead of posting my friend.
I checked back to see if you needed anything else.....and saw this comment:
"What is the issue with it extending to the top of the collator like usual?" and CB is fast for a moment so I'll send you a picture that demonstrates:
https://i.postimg.cc/02gZKx1W/Test_3.jpg
Ignoring the height of the cylinder that you lowered, notice the top is above the base so you can't use one of the top holes for support. So I lowered....
https://i.postimg.cc/15Zc5HDb/Test_5.jpg