3D Printing for Reloading Equipment

[GW Staar]

Very curious how much or how little interest there is out there.

For me it's been the best move I've made in the hobby in years, Second only to my progressive presses.

Clutched wheel for large rifle bullets

 

[AJC1]

The hornaday comparater holder is something I want but is already available to buy.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I found the little dance the bullets do, when turning over, fascinating

 

[jmorris]

They are quite the tool. Although very slow, they don’t have to be attended and allow the creation of things with a very small price and required knowledge base/skill set associated with conventional machine tools.

Things that might require a lathe/mill and the skills to use them can be formed by downloading files and simply printing them out.

 

[lordpaxman]

I’ve been looking to purchase one especially when thingiverse has so much to offer. There have been 3D printed parts on eBay for quite a while and while inexpensive it’d still be nice to fire up the local printer. Most recently I’ve been designing USPSA stages and want to have scale models to set up the COF. A company offers these, but it’d be more fun to print them. I’m just trying to decide on the price point and features. I’ve narrowed it to using 1.75mm filament, would like to have a heated platform, roughly 250mm**3, and would be nice to do a few colors but not looking to do that via a splicer, nor have a full color ink jet. Not looking to go cheap as that usually results in a disappointing and frustrating experience.

 

[DukeConnor]

None of the above, my son has a couple and has made me a bunch of stuff.
Most of it has been great, some not so much.

 

[brasscollector]

I placed myself in the "Have one and worth every penny" category.

 

[FROGO207]

My thoughts are the ability of making actual mono metal bullets with a specific hollow point cavity shape that enhances expantion/penitration, of my design. When those printers get to a reasonable cost I'll be in.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Never bought a bullet feeder but I did recently buy a primer catch/diverter that was 3D printed form a guy on ebay. It is 3D printed rubber that diverts primers down a tube (not included) when you deprime. Handy little tool. Works most of the time except when the primer cup and anvil separate and the anvil slips between the ram and primer catch. Then you have to slide the primer catch up to get the offending components out of the way. It is satisfying to pop the primer out, see it go down the clear tube, and clink into the mason jar below.

 

[Kaldor]

I have one, worth the money. They can be finicky at times and have a learning curve to use. Designing or modifying parts is something I really enjoy.

Ive printed quite a few reloading type parts, and overall with the parts Ive printed, Id say Ive about broke even with the cost of my Ender 5.

 

[Shaggy357]

I have the primer catcher for my single stage press. Have a bobsled for my AR that a friend built. I have a ton of ideas, but not a clue about 3D printers.

 

[cfullgraf]

I definitely can see the potential of a 3D printer but I have been resisting the urge to get one.

I have a CNC plasma cutting table and a CNC router table and they do not get used alot. I make some great things on them but it is always a major exercise to re-learn the operation of the tools every time I use them.

I just have too many irons in the fire, I guess.

It is great to see what others are doing with their 3D printers though.

 

[GW Staar]

I definitely can see the potential of a 3D printer but I have been resisting the urge to get one.
I have a CNC plasma cutting table and a CNC router table and they do not get used alot. I make some great things on them but it is always a major exercise to re-learn the operation of the tools every time I use them.
I just have too many irons in the fire, I guess.

It is great to see what others are doing with their 3D printers though.

I can relate to that. I would like to learn all the skills and tools of a machinist and have a machine shop.....to go along with my wood shop, and my Cad office (which besides the workstation has a plotter, that besides printing building plans can print high definition photos 24"x36". It takes money, a good reason to spend it (usually profit potential), and space the we often don't have enough of.....and time which none of us has enough of until we retire.(I'm past retirement age, but I won't until my mind and body forces that).

We can't all have every tool we want, or learn them all in one life, and I envy and respect the few who can and do. That said, I have this bad habit of modifying tools and makiing stuff out of nothing for the challenge and to save money.. So along comes people on this forum who demo this 3d printer, and show me how all my effort is just exercises in doing it the hard way. So I spent $500.for a big one...where most start smaller and cheaper. (and it was hard to part with it ) But there was surprisingly zero buyer remorse. There was a learning curve, and it's still running. But I printed a big T-Rex head for my grandson the first month....proving that even a dummy like me can learn it within a couple of weeks enough to use it.

The best part is the relatively small foot print. you can stick in a corner somewhere. No.....the best part is that it's fun and it made me want to learn the 3d side of cad, which I never felt there was a great need for......The building trades build off of mostly very dimenionally accurate 2D.plans.

 

[Mr_Gun_Guy]

I have one (my third over the past ten years) and have used it to make all kinds of things. Hooks for the shower, pool scooper hanger, some inventions of my own, (etc, etc)... and plenty of gun parts. The AR grips I’ve made have been junk but the AFGs and ammo boxes were spot on. I haven’t made any reloading tools but I’ve only got a single stage press and all the tools I need.

IMHO, every home will have a 3D printer in the not-too-distant-future. I can see a time when you will scan your feet, upload that into your computer, go to the New Balance website, select your shoes - color, material, closures, tread pattern (even custom ones) - and then print them to fit your feet exactly (just as one of many, many examples). 3D printers will become as ubiquitous as microwaves and lasers.

PS For those of you who think they are too expensive, yes they can get pricey but you can get a perfectly usable Ender3 for less than $200. I think I saw one on Amazon for $180 a month or so ago. My Craftbot cost me $1,000 three years ago and it’s still working like it was new.

 

[jmorris]

I have a CNC plasma cutting table and a CNC router table and they do not get used alot.

Both of those are a lot larger investment in time, space and money. I have to agree though it is often cheaper for me to just have parts I need laser or water jet cut than is is for me to buy material and use my CNC plasma table because I don’t buy material by the truck load very often.

As far as making files, there is an awful lot out there just a click away.

https://www.thingiverse.com/

 

[Tirod]

We are ten years further on the learning curve and getting affordable equipment than when this was first envisioned. And that is good. I suspect it will be cheap and easy about the time I will have my keys taken away, tho. It seems to be in good hands. Keep up the work.

In the meantime I expect to see an incomplete FCU's for Glocks, which fit a mating Glock grip unit, at which point things will get politically spicey. And I definitely support the idea even not being a Glockophile. No different than filing your own lockwork for a flint muzzle loading automatic. Yes, in the day. Look it up.

The history of firearms in America is based on "Don't tell us we can't make it." Which is why I bought a printed snap in filing guide to get a correct profile to install a safety in my handgun. Cheap, and well done. Good results. Stuff is already working in my life.

I can see where we might be able to print an open architecture part which we then soak in a compatible epoxy which fills the voids - like a stacking foam block finsulation that you pour concrete in to form a wall. A kind of polymer MIM process. Maybe a two headed printer process, then it self bakes and cures.

Dang I'm gonna miss those truck keys. No fobs. No capes either.

 

[GW Staar]

Bullet feeders works great, but I also wondered how a Case Feeder might work with another collator base the same size. Had trouble with cases wanting to soldier in lines when adding a lot of brass, so I added a part to bowl them over. I staged a lot of lined up soldiers to test. Works, fine..

As you see the clutch is important in case of a jam. Below 1st try before tylerR's clutch idea......works unless lots of brass causes soldiers and jams.


Then I wanted to try a combo press light and video powder cop together for my older Pro 2000. Also works great.


Sometimes 5 stations isn't enough so using the video for a powder cop saves a station for say a bullet feeder........

Unless you are really tall you might need mirrors above your feeders as well......the 3d printer makes making a mirror mount simple too.



All thread and wing nuts from Ace Hardware completed it. Just mounted them on a shelf above the feeders.
Now! What else do I need......