printed rails, Interest thread

[knownothingmags]

The fat parts in the rail. In your case, the big chunk surrounding the sear pin (I think).



Yeah one of the reasons I've held back on the 3d printers is I want one that has a built-in auto-level probe if it's FDM...

yeah my auto level is me set the bed to the level that is right and what do you know it stays level

the "wings" on the super skinny rail is where the am/mm sear sits.

[zulubravo44]

I have a question about other printed items. Working on a pump build at the moment, and I'm scrambling to find a hitman mod for it. The thought struck me... Can such a thing be printed?

Here's a rough sketch of what I came up with:

Hitman1.png

I have a feeling what I've sketched up probably won't last long; the two small holes where it mounts to the pump plate are probably going to break through, right? The cutaway between these two holes is necessary because of the pump rod that is between (and slightly below) them. BTW, the overall length is 2", width is 1" at the top tapering to 0.5" on the handle and thickness varies from 0.25" where it mounts down to 0.125" on the handle.

Thoughts? Can it be done KNM?

[GoatBoy]

That's printable, but it won't be strong enough to use as a pump handle.

The best possibility would be to use 3d printing for the tricky geometries, then augment with off-the-shelf parts for strength. So 3d printed parts + off the shelf CF rods = KABLAM. Personally for anything pump rod/handle related, I'd look at some actual linear bearings and build around those if possible.


Back to rail stuff -- customization is where having a rail in the first place makes any sense at all. The rail has always been the biggest untapped customization potential of the automag. Aside from machining issues, it really should have been folded together with the grip frame.

So, for instance, if you wanted picatinny on your rail, or an integrated Gopro mount, or a plain 1/4-20 hole, or a particular foregrip setup, you could customize it into the rail. Maybe you like having "wings", maybe you don't. Maybe you want a cocker beavertail on the back of your gun for no good reason whatsoever. Rail is the place to do it. (Not the body. *Cough*) If not, then get rid of the rail altogether.

The neat part is that this can all just be code. Adding/removing options can be as simple as setting/clearing 1's and 0's in a parameterized file. Having more options is probably a nightmare for classic manufacturing, but it's totally doable if you're 3d printing them. And it would be way more "custom" than, well, what's normally considered custom.

[zulubravo44]

So, for instance, if you wanted picatinny on your rail

A very interesting idea. I'd love a rail with 6-8" of picatinny rail seamlessly stemming from the front under the barrel. Then again, I may be challenging the breakage point of printed materials again. Maybe if it kept the rounded upper contour of the rail it would be strong enough?

[knownothingmags]

That's printable, but it won't be strong enough to use as a pump handle.

yes it will.
may need small tweeking but should work fine.

[knownothingmags]

I have a question about other printed items. Working on a pump build at the moment, and I'm scrambling to find a hitman mod for it. The thought struck me... Can such a thing be printed?

Here's a rough sketch of what I came up with:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]89565[/ATTACH]

I have a feeling what I've sketched up probably won't last long; the two small holes where it mounts to the pump plate are probably going to break through, right? The cutaway between these two holes is necessary because of the pump rod that is between (and slightly below) them. BTW, the overall length is 2", width is 1" at the top tapering to 0.5" on the handle and thickness varies from 0.25" where it mounts down to 0.125" on the handle.

Thoughts? Can it be done KNM?

yes it can be done.
* again small tweeking but i could get you where you want to be.

i am packing up to move into a new house we just purchased,
so the print shop will be down for a while.
ill hit this thread up with a post when im back, or ill hitup my printshop thread.

[zulubravo44]

yes it can be done.
* again small tweeking but i could get you where you want to be.

i am packing up to move into a new house we just purchased,
so the print shop will be down for a while.
ill hit this thread up with a post when im back, or ill hitup my printshop thread.

congrats on the new house. i'd be keen to hear what kind of tweaking would be necessary.

[GoatBoy]

A very interesting idea. I'd love a rail with 6-8" of picatinny rail seamlessly stemming from the front under the barrel. Then again, I may be challenging the breakage point of printed materials again. Maybe if it kept the rounded upper contour of the rail it would be strong enough?

Well you could wrap it around the barrel...

https://images2.sw-cdn.net/model/picture/625x465_1475489_1632690_1384501317.jpg

[knownothingmags]

Well you could wrap it around the barrel...

https://images2.sw-cdn.net/model/pic...1384501317.jpg

very nice idea.
goatboy hit me up in like a month lol
ill also check this thread again.

[zulubravo44]

Well you could wrap it around the barrel...

https://images2.sw-cdn.net/model/pic...1384501317.jpg

That is cool, but those of us with CF barrels may not be so happy about the scuff risk of something like that. Even the aluminum barrels might show wear from something like that.

It's a really cool design though.

[knownothingmags]

That is cool, but those of us with CF barrels may not be so happy about the scuff risk of something like that. Even the aluminum barrels might show wear from something like that.

It's a really cool design though.

saw this,

make a recess on the inside and put a nice lining of rubber/silicone tape, so then that is all that touches the barrel,
get a high enough quality of silicone tape and it wont ever degrade or stick to anything it touches, just grips.

[GoatBoy]

saw this,

make a recess on the inside and put a nice lining of rubber/silicone tape, so then that is all that touches the barrel,
get a high enough quality of silicone tape and it wont ever degrade or stick to anything it touches, just grips.

That's pretty much the way to do it.

That part is designed for a 1" barrel anyways (i.e. the thick part on autococker barrels where either pump arms or old school shrouds used to go), so a CF barrel typically isn't going to be thick enough anyways. I'd thicken the barrel up with whatever, and maybe cover that with shrink wrap or something to tidy it up.



Say, do you have black filament? You know how I likes my black...

[river031403]

Goatboy please design & print drum magazine for .68 paint 20 rounds or so

[knownothingmags]

That's pretty much the way to do it.

That part is designed for a 1" barrel anyways (i.e. the thick part on autococker barrels where either pump arms or old school shrouds used to go), so a CF barrel typically isn't going to be thick enough anyways. I'd thicken the barrel up with whatever, and maybe cover that with shrink wrap or something to tidy it up.



Say, do you have black filament? You know how I likes my black...

Just waiting on the house to close so we can move in. :)

[zulubravo44]

Got another crazy printing idea that may just work. If you pay attention to my blabbering, you may know that I just "finished" a Z body pump mag. By finished I mean made it functional, and it's a whole hell of a lot of fun.

An idea struck me. What about making a "classic feed" for where the powertube attaches. The body uses as a dovetailed, removable powerfeed setup. If I can go with a classic feed, I can easily bolt on a very low profile stick feed. Biggest problem is that I'm drawing up a product with a market of one buyer (I think). Then again, I thought 3D printing was all about the capacity to do one offs and rapid prototypes?

So I took to my free CAD software and came up with this. I'm pretty sure this is a printable part, no?

Z Body Classic Feed.png


I also made one with a fully revolved and extruded 12 round tube, but that might not be possible to print because of dimensions and geometry? See below.

Z Bod Feed 2.pngZ Cram Jam.png