If I had a 3d printer could I make airsoft parts?

[adam bussey]

what do you guys think if I use ABS plastic?

 

[david0512]

You could probably do it but I'd check the relevant sections of the law first just to be sure.

 

[Nutster]

Think it depends what you were planning to make, and if you were copying anyone's designs,

Other than that I can't see any reason not to try it (cost permitting)

 

[Tariq]

If you can buy the parts, you can make the parts.

The only thing stopping you is cost and patents.

Although since when has patents stopped us with copywrite issues. Our guns are jut unlicensed gun replicas

 

[Elmusie]

Entirely possible as peeps have eluded to above.

A fella in the states has managed to develop plans for 3D printers to produce an m4 lower receiver and magazine, and who knows he may have succeeded in developing the remaining items since i last saw. He did manage to get it firing on live rounds.

If he can manage that then there shouldnt be anything to prevent it being possible for an airsoft rifle.

/Adam.

 

[TacMaster]

Cost you more to get the plastic then the cost of the part you'd be making, I think it's around £40 for a roll

 

[Elmusie]

Cost you more to get the plastic then the cost of the part you'd be making, I think it's around £40 for a roll

Thats and the cost of the printing machine itself

/Adam.

 

[TacMaster]

Yeah lol

I do a GCSE BTEC course at my local college which has a 3D printer, they can't make anything bigger than tiny clockwork kits. They are barely able to afford the plastic because of the generous funding the engineering department gets from engineering firms around Hampshire

 

[adam bussey]

i am thinking parts for my own use not sale

 

[TacMaster]

What I meant was that it'd be cheaper to buy the parts then to buy a 3D printer, rolls of plastic and a 3D CAD program (which can cost £££'s)

 

[adam bussey]

my dad is a land surveyor and as part of his business we are going to start making architectural models using a makerbot as well as model railway kits that I'll sell.

 

[TacMaster]

Yeah, but what CAD package are you going to use for it? If you're making something from your own designs then you're screwed without something like AutoCAD, SolidWorks or TurboCAD. And those software packages are damn expensive and need a decent PC to run

 

[ScoobySnacks]

Autocad isn't amazing for 3D, Solid Works is popular. When I did my degree it was all about Rhino and CATIA. Used to have to have a complete dedicated network setup for CATIA!

These packages cost thousands for the full licence!

 

[TacMaster]

Solidworks is extremely popular, and very simple to learn as well. Don't deal with university level CAD at BTEC Level 2-3 so I can't say anything on that matter

 

[adam bussey]

we have autocad already and my dad gets discounted software because he is CEO of the company (VAT back amongst other things)

 

[TacMaster]

You'd probably be better off with SolidWorks, but fair do's. Either way it would be cheaper just to buy the parts you need, since you won't have to spend lotsa money on plastic to make a tiny wee part

 

[adam bussey]

no I am thinking ergo/long ris handguard for my G36 made out of ABS muhahahahaha!

 

[Tariq]

Its a good thing i have full editions of AutoCAD, Solidworks and Catia :L

CATIA FTW though. Prefer AutoCAD for 2D work, but 3D work Catia wins hands down.

 

[TacMaster]

no I am thinking ergo/long ris handguard for my G36 made out of ABS muhahahahaha!

Sorry to rain on your parade, but that will cost you a LOT of money to make. It's about £22.99 for 1KG of grey 3D printer plastic. And you'd need quite a few spools to make the ergo handguard you have in mind.

Using data from MakerGeeks.com, one spool of 1.75mm thick filament is about 3m long. Think that's a lot? For making multiple small parts it's enough for a fair few. However, as the G36 handguard needs to be thick and roughly the shape of a rounded trapezium, this would require a lot of plastic. a lot indeed. As for adding in RIS rail fitting threads, which need to be thick, you may be spending a lot of money to make it.

 

[adam bussey]

Sorry to rain on your parade, but that will cost you a LOT of money to make. It's about £22.99 for 1KG of grey 3D printer plastic. And you'd need quite a few spools to make the ergo handguard you have in mind.

Using data from MakerGeeks.com, one spool of 1.75mm thick filament is about 3m long. Think that's a lot? For making multiple small parts it's enough for a fair few. However, as the G36 handguard needs to be thick and roughly the shape of a rounded trapezium, this would require a lot of plastic. a lot indeed. As for adding in RIS rail fitting threads, which need to be thick, you may be spending a lot of money to make it.

the spools I have seen are 400m of filament