Gunsmithing 3D Printed 316 Stainless Steel magazine bodies

THEIS · Jul 21, 2021

Hi,

338 CIP external dimensions but spacer, follower and feed lips for short action cartridges.

3D printed in 316 stainless steel.

Sincerely,
Theis

Takashi · Jul 21, 2021

Did you/can you print the follower and spring inside in one shot?

THEIS · Jul 21, 2021

Takashi said:
Did you/can you print the follower and spring inside in one shot?

Hi,

Did we? No, Keeping them "independent" allows us to change out the spacer to follower length relationship for optimization of different cartridge shapes/lengths.

Can you? I guess everything is possible but I would think it would not be productively feasible.

Sincerely,
Theis

... · Jul 21, 2021

~$700/mag ?

THEIS · Jul 21, 2021

mcameron said:
~$700/mag ?

Hi,

Less than half of that but still cheapest way to test a concept than paying to setup forming dies, etc for stamping.

Sincerely,
Theis

308pirate · Jul 21, 2021

mcameron said:
~$700/mag ?

That's cheap for prototypes/proof of concept articles

Jrb572 · Jul 21, 2021

That is crazy. Can you share a video of it making one?

I understand it might be a trade secret and you might not be able to.

... · Jul 21, 2021

THEIS said:
Hi,

Less than half of that but still cheapest way to test a concept than paying to setup forming dies, etc for stamping.

Sincerely,
Theis

no i hear ya...making 4 prototype mags sounds like a pain in the ass.

DMLS im assuming?...any issues printing that thin? warping?

FuhQ · Jul 21, 2021

Are they AICS pattern?

THEIS · Jul 21, 2021

MudRunner2005 said:
Are they AICS pattern?

Hi,

Externally they are compatible with AI#20400

Sincerely,
Theis

Hollywood 6mm · Jul 21, 2021

I'm still waiting for the day we have a viable, commercially available 12-14 round AIAW 308 pattern mag.

@THEIS - please???

308pirate · Jul 21, 2021

Jrb572 said:
That is crazy. Can you share a video of it making one?

I understand it might be a trade secret and you might not be able to.

Not sure what exact process Theis used but here's an example

THEIS · Jul 21, 2021

mcameron said:
no i hear ya...making 4 prototype mags sounds like a pain in the ass.

DMLS im assuming?...any issues printing that thin? warping?

Hi,

Correct, DMLS.

No issues so far but we haven't started running magazine changes through the rifles; but there should be no issue at all.

Spacer and follower design(s) will be finished the end of this week.

Sincerely,
Theis

Jrb572 · Jul 21, 2021

308pirate said:
Not sure what exact process Theis used but here's an example

Holy shit. What does something like that cost to buy.

thank you for sharing the video

308pirate · Jul 21, 2021

Jrb572 said:
What does something like that cost to buy.

The machine?

I don't know for sure as I've never quoted or bought one, but I would think that the ante opens up at half a million.

Jrb572 · Jul 21, 2021

308pirate said:
The machine?

I don't know for sure as I've never quoted or bought one, but I would think that the ante opens up at half a million.

Yep the Machine

godofthunder · Jul 21, 2021

THEIS said:
Hi,

Less than half of that but still cheapest way to test a concept than paying to setup forming dies, etc for stamping.

Sincerely,
Theis

That's actually pretty impressive. The couple of quotes I got (for parts much smaller than a mag) were in the $800/ea range.

THEIS · Jul 21, 2021

Jrb572 said:
Yep the Machine

Hi,

For the machines that can hold multi decimal place tolerances.....680k and up.

Sincerely,
Theis

powdahound76 · Jul 21, 2021

How long to “print” the cases as pictured?

Awesome stuff. Cool to see!!

Jrb572 · Jul 21, 2021

THEIS said:
Hi,

For the machines that can hold multi decimal place tolerances.....680k and up.

Sincerely,
Theis

Can you print a receiver with it?

... · Jul 21, 2021

Jrb572 said:
Can you print a receiver with it?

I mean, they are printing rocket nozzles, suppressor, even the prototype frames for the Hudson H9.....don't see why receivers would be out of the question

With DMLS, you have near 100% metal density, so whatever you can make out of billet you can reasonably make by printing

Some truly amazing bit of kit those printers are

TxWelder35 · Jul 21, 2021

Are those mags as printed? Surface finish looks pretty good

308pirate · Jul 22, 2021

Jrb572 said:
Can you print a receiver with it?

mcameron said:
I mean, they are printing rocket nozzles, suppressor, even the prototype frames for the Hudson H9.....don't see why receivers would be out of the question

With DMLS, you have near 100% metal density, so whatever you can make out of billet you can reasonably make by printing

Some truly amazing bit of kit those printers are

Not only can you print it, the part is able to be heat treated much like one made from wrought alloy.

THEIS · Jul 29, 2021

Hi,

Plastic printed prototype spacer and follower to test in the magazines.

Sincerely,
Theis

DR&M · Jul 30, 2021

This is awesome!!!! Very cool

Get 30% off the first 3 months with code HIDE30

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