What am I printing??

[Jim Watson]

Seen on another board. What's the next step, metal printing?

 

[WestKentucky]

Seen on another board. What's the next step, metal printing?
View attachment 1058390

Lost PLA casting is the next step. Print your shape, paint it with plaster, pack it in green sand, pour molten metal into the mold. Not exactly how Ruger does their production but pretty stinkin close. Ruger uses wax and they cast multiple parts at once, home casters won’t ever have the tools to handle that volume.

 

[Insignificant bill]

I have an Anet AM8 and an Ender3 Pro use it for practical prints. Print Bullet feeding dies etc. Mostly Print with PETG

 

[45CalPal]

Im using 2 ender 5 printers (absoutly love them) with simplify 3d for slicing, and a custom unbranded cad software my friend wrote.

Wow, thanks for the info men! I am seriously intrigued by this. Now I am seriously thinking about getting into this. I am imagining all sorts of possibilities.

Theres all kinds of web sites like this one, but I prefer this one myself www.thingverse.com. 3D printing is in its infancy, so just expect it to get better as time goes on.
Here is my cad designs i made for free download.
https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=printmechanic&type=things&sort=relevant

I just added a new upload for some 12g snap caps.

 

[45CalPal]

You all are missing out on prints that are actually useable (rugged use) such as the OP... its a PIA to get the settings right, and learn the quirks of your printer enviroment Etc... but ABS is the way to go for things like the OP supressor.

to the OP.... Nice Job!!

 

[brasscollector]

ABS is a love/hate relationship. When the prints turn out they are really good. When it warps and pops off the build plate @ 95% completion...

 

[WestKentucky]

Im using 2 ender 5 printers (absoutly love them) with simplify 3d for slicing, and a custom unbranded cad software my friend wrote.


Theres all kinds of web sites like this one, but I prefer this one myself www.thingverse.com. 3D printing is in its infancy, so just expect it to get better as time goes on.
Here is my cad designs i made for free download.
https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=printmechanic&type=things&sort=relevant

I just added a new upload for some 12g snap caps.

I’m going to be using your files soon!!!

 

[gotboostvr]

Seen on another board. What's the next step, metal printing?
View attachment 1058390

Sintered metal printing is already a thing, but the buy in is pretty steep.

 

[SSN Vet]

We got a Form 3 SLA printer at work last year. Quite expensive, but a package deal system that takes most of the guess work out of the experience. I’ve only had two failed prints out of the 30 or so I’ve done.

After a couple months of inactivity, the printer pooped the bed a month after the warranty expired and we had to drop another $800 to replace it.

SLA resolution and finish is awesome, but the supports are a PITA.

 

[Insignificant bill]

12 ga adapter for 9mm laser bullet

 

[Insignificant bill]

Tinkercad is a decent program but it’s kinda like a tricycle. As soon as you get good with it, your ready to move on to bigger and better. It’s a great thing to learn on and see if modeling is something that you enjoy, but beyond that it’s somewhat lacking.

Fusion 360, FreeCad, Scad

 

[Insignificant bill]

Finished Adapter

 

[45CalPal]

ABS is a love/hate relationship. When the prints turn out they are really good. When it warps and pops off the build plate @ 95% completion...

Theres a secret to printing ABS I agree, but I have been using it for so long, it is a breeze for me now. What I do.....
is number one use a glass build plate (it makes a world of difference), and when the prints get to about 5 or 6 layers I use a little superglue on the corners of the piece. it bonds them to the plate and prevents the warpage. When complete the glass is just scraped with a flat edge razor blade to clean it. (verry easy and quick)

Also if you expierence a lot of warpage the part your printing is cooling dow way too fast.. I have noticed that petg and pla require a quick cooling, but abs requires a consistent heat all the way to the finish, So I turn the fan off for abs printing.

I also have seen others use plexiglass to fully enclose thier printer (in a box) to retain the heat. I do not have this issue tho...

When using the slicer try to rotate your parts to the best position to be as flat as possible and as little supports as possible.

 

[45CalPal]

Fusion 360, FreeCad, Scad

I am building a new printer and I decided to go with a three color, 3 extruder design Also the build plate will be a z axis movement only like the ender5 I have is.
Used many "A" frame printers and did not like all the vibration and X/Y movements. Here is the print head I just got done printing.



EDIT: I also highly recomend upgrading any printer to a direct drive option for best consistent feeding results.

 

[Olon]

I just got my first printer (artillery genius pro) and the first non-test part I made is this toolhead holder:

I've since printed several more and currently on the bed is a new primer catch for the same press. Lots of dillon accessories haha.
It helps that I have access to high end 3d modeling software through work and can remotely access my work desktop

 

[Olon]

Im using 2 ender 5 printers (absoutly love them) with simplify 3d for slicing, and a custom unbranded cad software my friend wrote.



Theres all kinds of web sites like this one, but I prefer this one myself www.thingverse.com. 3D printing is in its infancy, so just expect it to get better as time goes on.
Here is my cad designs i made for free download.
https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=printmechanic&type=things&sort=relevant

I just added a new upload for some 12g snap caps.

Thanks for sharing files. That stock you have is very cool, gonna have to steal some inspiration from you

Ever used nylon filaments or are you finding abs plenty durable?

 

[gobsauce]

Anyone else think we should have threads dedicated to forum member's creations? Like gun leather, 3d prints, etc? I've thought about opening one in the Handguns : General Discussion area for gun leather.

 

[Olon]

Anyone else think we should have threads dedicated to forum member's creations? Like gun leather, 3d prints, etc? I've thought about opening one in the Handguns : General Discussion area for gun leather.

seems like a good idea to me

 

[CapnMac]

Handguns : General Discussion area for gun leather.

Normally, Holsters go in the Shooting Gear & Storage forum.; purchased or made.

 

[WestKentucky]

Anyone else think we should have threads dedicated to forum member's creations? Like gun leather, 3d prints, etc? I've thought about opening one in the Handguns : General Discussion area for gun leather.

Call it related creations or something of the sort. I like the idea but getting somebody to take it on as a mod would probably be tough even if there was an agreement to create the section.

 

[gobsauce]

Normally, Holsters go in the Shooting Gear & Storage forum.; purchased or made.

This one would be specifically for holsters, gun belts, etc. Similarly, one in the rifles section for scabbards, slings, stock wraps, things of the like.

 

[CapnMac]

This one would be specifically for holsters, gun belts, etc. Similarly, one in the rifles section for scabbards, slings, stock wraps, things of the like.

It's a notion a person could advance over in the Site Suggestions Area.

From a Forum Moderation viewpoint, creating sub-fora gets to be a pain sometimes. Especially anything as like to be resource-heavy as a series of photo-heavy postings can be.Derek and Mal are Juggernauts, striding our mere Earth in two-league boots; but they had feet as clay as we do we all. So, make your case to them. But, as sub-forum exists, it will take an outstanding making of case.