3D printed firearms interest?

[Kirk Freeman]

What are you doing for springs? Just buying stock ones?

Stock, DD, Spooky, Wolf, lots of good sources. We have been lucky with springs . . . followers . . . well, took some spotting rounds, lol.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Perhaps our INGO engineers or skilled tradesman guys can comment on this, but to me (one outside that world), it seems to me that some designs are more conducive to being copied via 3-D printing. The FNS, Glock, and P-35 all seem to be solid.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

"Kirk, don't you like revolvers?"

Yes, yes I do.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Ross Peters's .22 Revolver, The Maverick:

 

[Kirk Freeman]

You say you already have a blue million handguns and are more interested in shotguns given your age and SES?

Well, the 3-D printing community has guns for you too!

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Kirk, I want a new carbine, BUT NOT AN AR just like everyone else.

Gotcha covered, snowflake. You can now (potentially) print an AK-47, Adidas track suit, bad cigarettes and Dakar Noir not included.

 

[Armchair Operator]

PEI bed and better springs was the best addition to my Ender, so much better and prints never come off during printing.

 

[Trevelayan]

Are there any ar15 magazine files that print/work well? I heard some people were looking into using piano wire for a spring as well as printing the follower. I'd love to print a ton of mags to give away if there is a decent design.

 

[Altrex]

I've been wanting to get into 3d printing for a while. I have a huge bank of gun related files but no printer. I heard the Ender 3 is a good start? How much counter space do you need to run one?

An Ender 3 is a good start for someone with very little knowledge. The printer itself is mostly built and a lot of models try to work around that bed size because of it popularity. Price point is good also. Size wise, a 2x2 area would be plenty.

There are some downsides to the design used by the Ender 3 such as the bed size and the fact that it moves. Its not a problem for short and small prints, but tall and large run a higher risk of lesser quality the further away from the bed. I would recommend something that looks like a cube with a bed that moves vertically. I currently use a couple Folgertech ft-5 for my go to.

The funny thing about 3d printers is how much front end work needs to be done before you hit the Print button. You need to make sure the printer is fairly tuned for the material you are using. You also have to set parameters for the print you are making and use a program to "slice" the model into machine movements.

If you like to build things then assembling your own printer can be a lot of fun. Plus you know how it went together so you can troubleshoot and maintain it.

 

[Altrex]

The General just had a video yesterday on the bed mats available now. No more hair spray . . . maybe.

I love hairspray on a mirror

 

[Altrex]

Are there any ar15 magazine files that print/work well? I heard some people were looking into using piano wire for a spring as well as printing the follower. I'd love to print a ton of mags to give away if there is a decent design.

I haven't noticed that being printed but will keep and eye out for you. I mostly see the Menendez mag for glocks.

 

[Noble Sniper]

Something I don’t understand and know nothing about…… although it sounds interesting!!

 

[Leadeye]

I've thought about this for unobtainium parts for old guns like Merwins. Engineering plastics would work in place of the steel ones that can't be found and you could keep an old gun shooting. No worries about BP corrosion either.

 

[Altrex]

I've thought about this for unobtainium parts for old guns like Merwins. Engineering plastics would work in place of the steel ones that can't be found and you could keep an old gun shooting. No worries about BP corrosion either.

You can also use the printed part as the positive of an investment cast. This of course get you into metal casting lol

 

[Leadeye]

Still looking for that barrel, I know it's here somewhere.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Still looking for that barrel, I know it's here somewhere.

Which barrel?

 

[Leadeye]

OP inquired about some old gun parts I may have, like many things this involves a search.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

OP inquired about some old gun parts I may have, like many things this involves a search.

Gotcha, same problem.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Ender 5 on sale at Amazon, $340.

 

[Altrex]

Ender 5 on sale at Amazon, $340.

Although I have never used one of these, I am not a fan of the cantilevered build plate design.