Very excited, just bought a 3d printer and have all kinds of gun schematics

[ziconceo]

What should I print first? The liberator? Ar 15 lower? Mac 10 receiver? Ar 10 lower? Fal receiver? 9mm casings?

I also realized that I can make a casting mold from my prints and turn the receivers into metal.

If anyone wants the schematics, feel free to send me a pm

[CK_32]

Post pics and video.

Me and some buddies were just talking about these printers.

Nothing really new as far as tech but always fun to watch. Me and my buddy watched his printer make a swan for about 3 hours when he first built it.

[RobertMW]

Make sure that you know what the % shrinkage of the material will be. Many people try and print an AR lower only find out that it shrunk by 3-5% and wont mate up to anything.

[Von_Richthofen]

Make sure that you know what the % shrinkage of the material will be. Many people try and print an AR lower only find out that it shrunk by 3-5% and wont mate up to anything.

Great point... Remembering the shrinkage factor is most important..

[CandG]

I have a 3d printer on my desk at work, and I seriously wouldn't trust anything it makes to be able to fire a round without blowing up. And unless your 3d printer was upwards of $10k or more, you probably shouldn't either. But you can make some pretty cool parts though - magazine parts, mounts, etc. I even made a grip plug for my glock 29 since they don't seem to exist in the marketplace.

[CSACANNONEER]

Make sure that you know what the % shrinkage of the material will be. Many people try and print an AR lower only find out that it shrunk by 3-5% and wont mate up to anything.

Shrinkage is even more important if making a core for a mold. You'll need to figure out the shrinkage of the core and the final casting.

[ziconceo]

Post pics and video.

Me and some buddies were just talking about these printers.

Nothing really new as far as tech but always fun to watch. Me and my buddy watched his printer make a swan for about 3 hours when he first built it.

Don't have the printer yet [emoji14] it'll be here in a few weeks.

Make sure that you know what the % shrinkage of the material will be. Many people try and print an AR lower only find out that it shrunk by 3-5% and wont mate up to anything.

Good idea! Thank you!

I have a 3d printer on my desk at work, and I seriously wouldn't trust anything it makes to be able to fire a round without blowing up. And unless your 3d printer was upwards of $10k or more, you probably shouldn't either. But you can make some pretty cool parts though - magazine parts, mounts, etc. I even made a grip plug for my glock 29 since they don't seem to exist in the marketplace.

That's why you only build gun parts that don't have to deal with pressure. Such as the lower, grip, stock, sights, etc.

[CandG]

That's why you only build gun parts that don't have to deal with pressure. Such as the lower, grip, stock, sights, etc.

Look on YouTube about 3d printed AR lowers. Most of them break after a couple of shots - the weak point seems to be the buffer tube mount, as it takes a significant amount of force during recoil. So it will need to be reinforced somehow. Just a heads up, so you aren't disappointed when your first printed AR lower breaks in half. 3d printers are an awesome technology, but it still has it's shortcomings. Anyhow, congrats on the purchase, you're going to have a lot of fun, especially if you know how (or learn how) to draw your own stuff.

[Peter.Steele]

Don't have the printer yet [emoji14] it'll be here in a few weeks.

Good idea! Thank you!

That's why you only build gun parts that don't have to deal with pressure. Such as the lower, grip, stock, sights, etc.

Yeah, let's see how well that lower works out for you ... there's a difference between NO pressure and NOT MUCH pressure. Remember, the recoil system ties directly into the threads on the buffer tower, and there's not a lot of material between the deck and the takedown pin hole.

[ziconceo]

Look on YouTube about 3d printed AR lowers. Most of them break after a couple of shots - the weak point seems to be the buffer tube mount, as it takes a significant amount of force during recoil. So it will need to be reinforced somehow. Just a heads up, so you aren't disappointed when your first printed AR lower breaks in half. 3d printers are an awesome technology, but it still has it's shortcomings. Anyhow, congrats on the purchase, you're going to have a lot of fun, especially if you know how (or learn how) to draw your own stuff.

I noticed that, even the molded ones have major problems. I do in fact plan on bulking the design up. I don't care about weight so it's not an issue at all for me. does anyone know offhand if you can model using sketchup? I'm somewhat talented with the program.

[michiganboy]

Look on YouTube about 3d printed AR lowers. Most of them break after a couple of shots - the weak point seems to be the buffer tube mount, as it takes a significant amount of force during recoil. So it will need to be reinforced somehow. Just a heads up, so you aren't disappointed when your first printed AR lower breaks in half. 3d printers are an awesome technology, but it still has it's shortcomings. Anyhow, congrats on the purchase, you're going to have a lot of fun, especially if you know how (or learn how) to draw your own stuff.

Use a piston upper like the arak21 and it might hold up longer.

[glockman19]

I wouldn't rely on a reciever that wasn't cut from a solid piece of aluminum or steel.
MIM pieces are failure parts in most firearms from what I hear.
If you wanted to make firearms, a milling machine would be the tool, not a 3d printer. At least not one you or I could afford. A manufacturing company I worked with had a $300,000 stereo lithography machine they used for aerospace and avaiation parts. And it was only to test the part before going into production.

[Cody]

You should get a schematic of your 3D printer and make more printers. You could repopulate the earth.

[desertjosh]

Nothing to add except, cool OP post some pics when you get cranking!

[Peter.Steele]

I wouldn't rely on a reciever that wasn't cut from a solid piece of aluminum or steel.
MIM pieces are failure parts in most firearms from what I hear.
If you wanted to make firearms, a milling machine would be the tool, not a 3d printer. At least not one you or I could afford. A manufacturing company I worked with had a $300,000 stereo lithography machine they used for aerospace and avaiation parts. And it was only to test the part before going into production.

Metal injection molding is not, in and of itself, a bad technology.

For instance, the tungsten carbide cutting tools that are used to cut tool steel? Yep - you guessed it. Metal injection molded, a lot of them.