Anyone play around with skeletonizing AR lowers?

[vile1]

So I've been on a big 80% AR-15 lower high lately.
I've made 3 so far and now, I have a spare "prototype" one that I wouldnt mind trying some crazy stuff on since it was free, and it is a little ghetto in terms of the person who tried to machine it.

So, Im playing around with AutoCAD and this is what I've come up with:




What do you guys think? Anyone have any experience with the LAR Skeleton lowers I've seen around the net? I've sort of based my design on that lower, but instead of straight squares, I thought triangular shapes would be stronger, and look a little cooler as well.

I'll post pics when Im done!

[Fractured]

That looks awesome! Weight savings would be negligible though.

I'm waiting for pics.

[zomie]

If you can get me a 3d model I would love a print of that beast.

[Quinc]

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

[ACRfan]

That looks pretty cool..

[vile1]

Thanks for the encouragement! The lower is sitting in the jig, clamped down as we speak in my mill at home. Just gotta wait for the damn 5:00pm work bell to go off and I'll be running towards it!

Also, before ANYONE elaborates on what Fractured said: I know this is next to POINTLESS for weight savings! I'm bored, have a free lower (that's already slightly boogered), and lots of time!

Also, for future reference: stripped lower with front takedown pin installed (no rear), bolt catch and trigger guard installed, weighs 9.45 oz.

[deviljon]

That looks awesome! I think it would look pretty cool too if you could create some type of slotted pattern. I'd totally want one.

[Solidux]

Im throwing money at my screen and nothing is happening. Why is nothing happening?

[89LT1]

i have really been thinking of doing something like this also... i got a shop all to myself and the blank space just screams machine me! lets see some results. yours was free mine is not...

[Capybara]

Why not try it? I bet if you do it and make it look cool, you will have a bunch of AR fanatics lined up with their wallets in their mouths, wanting to buy them from you. Personally, I would be concerned about reduced rigidity and torsional strength since you are reducing mass from an existing design that wasn't intended to be skeletonized but if you created a design that was cast or milled with rigidity and torsional strength designed into larger, channeled crossbraces where the material is missing, it might look cool and be demonstrably as strong or stronger than a normal lower.

[Arson]

Giving dirt and debrie a few more places to enter.

[Cummins_Powered]

Looks like it would be pretty cool.

[vile1]

Deviljon: where do you think the slots would go? are you talking about something like this?

[coq]

Deviljon: where do you think the slots would go? are you talking about something like this?

Wondering how much weight that took off...also, seems like you might get gassed a little.

[nitroxdiver]

Not my speed, but I think you have a nice design and I wish you the best of luck. Should turn out cool and I bet you'll get a lot of folks interested in having one done. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to final photos.
I'm envious of those with machine tool skills.