Printed AR-15 Magazine data now free for all

[Dean Weingarten]

Defense Distributed has created a website that is the "island of misfit (firearms) objects" that others have censored from the web. Chief among these are the data to print a complete, functional AR15 magazine, including the spring.

The current data is limited to a five round design, but it appears that it could easily be altered to a 10, 20, or 30 round design, especially if the maker is willing to add cheap and reliable steel springs.

The necessary springs can be hand made from wire, if desired.

Defcad AR-15 Magazine Link

Dean Weingarten

The link is live at the source:

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/01/printed-ar-15-magazine-data-now-free.html

 

[Solo]

Knowledge is power.

 

[straitnate14]

Any chance we can get files for a printed lower?

 

[Dean Weingarten]

Printed lower files are available at the site

The printed lower file is available at Defcad, but it is version one, that failed after six shots. Defense Unlimited is making considerable progress and should release a much improved version shortly.

I hope to publish an article on their progress soon. Their current version seems to be reliable for 40-80 rounds of .223.

 

[jerkface11]

The printed lower failed because they used a standard buffer and stock. They need to model it on the Cav-Arms lower.

 

[mister_murphy]

but it is version one, that failed after six shots

Just curious here...How did it fail?

 

[TheGloriousTachikoma]

It seems the ring that supports the receiver extension cracked off. It would need either reinforcement or as-heh, jerkface suggests, make the stock integral like the CavArms.

 

[mister_murphy]

Thanks TheGloriousTachikoma. I misunderstood Dean Weingarten in his previous post and for some reason thought that the mag had failed. My bad. Sorry.

Has there been any issues with the printed mag at all thus far?

 

[HoosierQ]

I should think anybody with a decent amound of metal working skill...and some tools at their disposal...would be able to make a magazine for just about any firearm. Let's face it, with just a little more of both, you can make the firearm! Can anybody say Sten gun?

As I've said before, in much different times, if "they" made guns illegal, "people" would just start making guns and "people" wouldn't make revolvers...they'd make sten guns.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

They need to model it on the Cav-Arms lower.

That could work better but Calvary Arms used a stronger plastic. Maybe if they made a thumbhole stock it could then maybe work.

 

[Dean Weingarten]

The problem with an integral or thumbhole stock

The problem with an integral or thumbhole stock is the size of the printer needed to make the object. You would need a much larger printer, and those cost about 20X what the smaller printers do.

It is not at all certain that the design change suggested would solve the problem. The cracks that I have seen were at the base of the stock threads, but the biggest difficulty is the size of the printer required.

 

[barnbwt]

It's actually quite common to piece RP items together from smaller bits that fit in the printer (usually several at once). Common epoxies are much stronger than the fuser bond, so the material itself (or rather, the weld) is still the weak point.

I'll bet you could print a reciever, reinforce it with some Bondo, and have something strong enough for real use (if not real service). Especially in the case of mag bodies/followers. If using the far more robust (and detailed) technology of Stereolithography, stuff like FCG components and durable receivers/mags as strong as injection-molded become possible (check out the Form 1 3D printer to see some folks trying to offer this technology for under 5000$)

For stocks, just print the form (which would be an ultralight 3D honeycomb "solid") pieces, glue them together, reinforce with a layer of fiberglass/carbon fiber/duct tape, and presto! Rilfe stock for 50 bucks or so and some of your time that's as nice as the fiber-reinforced balsa stocks target shooters use

"What gunpowder did for war, the printing press has done for the mind"
It's about time the mind returned the favor

TCB