Molding AR receivers

[Jmorrismetal]

I normally don't just post links but this one is pretty neat and has step by step photos, I thought some here would enjoy.

They don't have a very long life but interesting none the less.

End result

step by step is here
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/67...IY_100s_of_ARs_cheaper__faster__gentler_.html

 

[Sticky]

Boy... they sure are purty... lol

Just don't really have much faith in plastic lowers when aluminum is the norm and easily obtained...

 

[outrider58]

Rainbows!

 

[tkd4life]

This guys post made me laugh a couple of times. Great idea if you need something in a pinch.

 

[eruby]

Rainbows!

They're gonna make a GAY R 15.

 

[RoadDawg]

Replace the plastic with wax...

Use wax lower to create porcelain mold...

Fire porcelain mold to melt and drain wax...

Fill porcelain mold with molten aluminum...

Let cool...

Break away all porcelain...

Clean up and polish new aluminum lower...

Drill holes and assemble new AR...

 

[Melnic]

Remind me
Is 3D printing a lower legal?

 

[teratos]

Remind me
Is 3D printing a lower legal?

Yes

 

[ken792]

Replace the plastic with wax...

Use wax lower to create porcelain mold...

Fire porcelain mold to melt and drain wax...

Fill porcelain mold with molten aluminum...

Let cool...

Break away all porcelain...

Clean up and polish new aluminum lower...

Drill holes and assemble new AR...

You can cast aluminum with plaster of Paris too. You can dry out the moisture by firing it in a regular household oven.

 

[Melnic]

Yes

Now I just need to print one
My printer is pretty low end
I've printed some custom sights but not anything that big
My done printed a few rubber band guns though

 

[Jmorrismetal]

Boy... they sure are purty... lol

Just don't really have much faith in plastic lowers when aluminum is the norm and easily obtained...

I agree. Not to mention with time and materials you would likely have about the same money in one that would last a few hundred roads vs an aluminum one that will last for a lifetime of normal use.

At least if you didn't steal your kids Legos. Just thought it was interesting.

 

[outrider58]

Replace the plastic with wax...

Use wax lower to create porcelain mold...

Fire porcelain mold to melt and drain wax...

Fill porcelain mold with molten aluminum...

Let cool...

Break away all porcelain...

Clean up and polish new aluminum lower...

Drill holes and assemble new AR...

Lost wax method.

 

[Pinecone]

Remind me
Is 3D printing a lower legal?

Yes

If YOU do the programming.

If someone else supplies the program, THEY are considered the manufacturer.

 

[Melnic]

If YOU do the programming. If someone else supplies the program, THEY are considered the manufacturer.

There is no programming a 3D print like setting up a mill for an 80%

Design model
Export model file to format the 3D printer will print to
Set up printer to print file
Print

 

[Pinecone]

Not sure at what point BATFE has decided that YOU are not the manufacturer. But they have weighed in on the 3D printing of lowers.

Probably at the "Design model" point. You download a design, you are not the manufacturer.

 

[fectin]

The 3D printers you can get cheaply use fused deposition, which I wouldn't trust as a lower. The materials they use are also not suited to high temperature. As a grip or a stock, great, but as a lower, I would be really, really careful.

 

[whistlersmother]

Aluminum shrinks as it cools. IIRC 1/8 inch for every 1". Making a casting of an existing lower ain't gonna be succesful.

Now, 3D printing the slightly oversize lower for use in green sand, then pouring would be very doable, even for the backyard caster.

But then you get into cast vs forge tradeoffs for the lower.

 

[Long1MD]

Has anyone looked into this yet?

http://www.gunmold.com

 

[Adolph Oliver Bush]

Hey, that looks fun!

Email sent.

 

[5.56blaster]

Anything to stick it to the MAN!!