GW Staar
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2009
- Messages
- 3,705
So the 3d printed collator can do pistol, and I made another stop switch using a proximity switch to turn it off when the tubes are full. But how hard is it to majorly change calibers using that proximity stop switch?
I wouldn’t want to have to buy and fabricate new stop switches for every caliber change. That would be a PIA. But I can easily print the lower piece only (downtube out of the switch) even for the drastic change from .45 acp to .223 to step down the path diameter from even above the switch clear to the smaller feeder die on the press. Xray picture below illustrates.
The red area shows how with the 3d printer I was able to offset the bullet path inside at the proximity switch, to the switch side to move the tiny bullets within detection range. They have to be closer than large bullets to be picked up. Couldn't have done this without the 3d printer or a machine shop. The red area goes inside the upper to parts to the collator ..... it starts with a funnel to keep those little bullets from turning sideways.
I don’t even have a springtube small enough for .223, but I do have RCBS’s new tube rifle bullet feeder with it's black graphite tube, which I want to use. So the bottom was inset to fit that.
I like to see the bullet stack, but though the tube is super strong, it's opaque. To remedy that a few months ago, I set up a Dremel in a jig and cut a slot lengthwise so I could see the bullet stack.
So before I tested this new modified for .223 downtube for the proximity sensor, I filled up said tube, so I wouldn't have to drop so many bullets to fill the stack to the switch point and bore you all with repetition in the following video.
I printed a directional nub on the side where the tube is closest (painted white) so I can rotate the down tube that side to the sensor.
At the end of the video, I let a bullet from the bottom fall so it would start up again....dropped one more bullet....it stopped again. Works....
Of course, I still need to print a .223 wheel and plate to feed them. Never ends.....but on the other hand it's funner than most things I can do in my workshop.
I wouldn’t want to have to buy and fabricate new stop switches for every caliber change. That would be a PIA. But I can easily print the lower piece only (downtube out of the switch) even for the drastic change from .45 acp to .223 to step down the path diameter from even above the switch clear to the smaller feeder die on the press. Xray picture below illustrates.
The red area shows how with the 3d printer I was able to offset the bullet path inside at the proximity switch, to the switch side to move the tiny bullets within detection range. They have to be closer than large bullets to be picked up. Couldn't have done this without the 3d printer or a machine shop. The red area goes inside the upper to parts to the collator ..... it starts with a funnel to keep those little bullets from turning sideways.
I don’t even have a springtube small enough for .223, but I do have RCBS’s new tube rifle bullet feeder with it's black graphite tube, which I want to use. So the bottom was inset to fit that.
I like to see the bullet stack, but though the tube is super strong, it's opaque. To remedy that a few months ago, I set up a Dremel in a jig and cut a slot lengthwise so I could see the bullet stack.
So before I tested this new modified for .223 downtube for the proximity sensor, I filled up said tube, so I wouldn't have to drop so many bullets to fill the stack to the switch point and bore you all with repetition in the following video.
I printed a directional nub on the side where the tube is closest (painted white) so I can rotate the down tube that side to the sensor.
At the end of the video, I let a bullet from the bottom fall so it would start up again....dropped one more bullet....it stopped again. Works....
Of course, I still need to print a .223 wheel and plate to feed them. Never ends.....but on the other hand it's funner than most things I can do in my workshop.
