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make your own AR receiver
Posted: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:28:31
by FredVegas
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11770
Not a huge fan of plastic lowers, but at a cost of ~$10 in ABS plastic I'd be willing to give one a chance to prove me wrong. Does someone here own a 3D printer?
Re: make your own AR receiver
Posted: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:24:50
by SHMIV
I don't own one, but the concept is interesting. I think that someone here posted something, a while back, about printable magazines, too.
Re: make your own AR receiver
Posted: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:05:27
by FredVegas
SHMIV wrote:I don't own one, but the concept is interesting. I think that someone here posted something, a while back, about printable magazines, too.
There is a printable 10rd on thingiverse right now, but at less then $15 for a quality magazine it seems like a novelty. I haven't seen an AR receiver for under $60 plus transfer. (~$75)
If no one has a makerbot or other 3d printer, I may try to access the herndon maker-space. Been wanting to try it anyway.
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Re: make your own AR receiver
Posted: Tue, 07 Aug 2012 01:59:56
by sdlrodeo
I can't see why it wouldn't work as a dedicated .22LR.
I'd buy one.
Re: make your own AR receiver
Posted: Tue, 07 Aug 2012 04:06:44
by jdonovan
FredVegas wrote:
Not a huge fan of plastic lowers, but at a cost of ~$10 in ABS plastic I'd be willing to give one a chance to prove me wrong.
Whats left to prove? A guy over on ar-15.com already printed it out, and used a 5.56 upper on it, and it worked. Oh and he still has all his hands/fingers/eyes etc....
Re: make your own AR receiver
Posted: Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:41:14
by FredVegas
reliability is what's left to prove. I don't think many gun enthusiasts are happy with a firearm that will fire most of the time, and break in two when it does inevitably fail. $10 makes it a fun range toy, but the time I would spend swapping out a lower parts kit to a new lower every ~2000 rounds takes away some of the appeal. I'd like to see an AR-10 .308 polymer lower stress tested. A reliable one for ~$15 would be a great deal.
Re: make your own AR receiver
Posted: Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:57:06
by jdonovan
FredVegas wrote:reliability is what's left to prove.
Currently available 3d-home printers don't have a sufficiently strong plastic available to make a long-term reliable lower.
There are some industrial printers that can do a strong/reliable part, but my understanding is the cost per unit is much higher than just using a CNC mill to cut the lower out of an aluminum forging.