Posted: 5/1/2012 10:05:37 AM EDT
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Hello All... I have got my cnc up and running, just waiting on some more tooling... I have designed these two sets of ar15 and ar10 receivers and will be cutting them out for myself.... Would like some input on them as these are my first designs.... I am also looking for ideas of what else to make that I can sell as I do not have my ffl yet... Sorry for the bad grammar and thank you all...
on another note: is there something wrong with the ar15 store, i tried to purchase a membership, but kept on getting some error code. finally went through... 
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Cool.
What program did you use to design that? Autodesk Inventor? ETA I'm not really a fan of the magwell grip but I like the integrated trigger guard. I also like the slick side better and think it has a good shape to it. Make some sling attachments to match the shape and sell them too. |
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Let me guess - Solidworks, right?
I didn't look over your design with a fine tooth comb, but I did notice that you have many pockets and chamfered surfaces that intersect in a straight edge. Unless you have a 5-axis machine, or a conical cutter, you're going to have a fillet at thsoe edges. |
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Let me guess - Solidworks, right? I didn't look over your design with a fine tooth comb, but I did notice that you have many pockets and chamfered surfaces that intersect in a straight edge. Unless you have a 5-axis machine, or a conical cutter, you're going to have a fillet at thsoe edges. you are right, im still tweaking it as i run it through virtual cam, trying to get the machine time down. I'm learning as i go. |
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Pretty looking, but will take quite a bit of effort to machine. I'm a function-over-form guy myself, so I tend to pass on the extra work required to put in all those extra little details, but that's just me. To each his own. I assume you've done a good bit of machining work before - how many axes does your machine have? A good number of those angled/swept cuts look like they'll either require a 4th axis, some serious fixturing or a lot of ball mill time. Like I said, I'm lazy, and don't waste my time with that stuff, but it does make for a visually pleasing receiver.
As far as not having the FFL - I would avoid anything related to the receiver, fcg and muzzle devices. Assembly tools and the like can be useful, and I've fancied making my own rail attachments for various applications. Outside of that, I do totally unrelated work to earn money - far fewer questions, and better cash flow. Good luck! |
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Pretty looking, but will take quite a bit of effort to machine. I'm a function-over-form guy myself, so I tend to pass on the extra work required to put in all those extra little details, but that's just me. To each his own. I assume you've done a good bit of machining work before - how many axes does your machine have? A good number of those angled/swept cuts look like they'll either require a 4th axis, some serious fixturing or a lot of ball mill time. Like I said, I'm lazy, and don't waste my time with that stuff, but it does make for a visually pleasing receiver. As far as not having the FFL - I would avoid anything related to the receiver, fcg and muzzle devices. Assembly tools and the like can be useful, and I've fancied making my own rail attachments for various applications. Outside of that, I do totally unrelated work to earn money - far fewer questions, and better cash flow. Good luck! I have a 4 axis machine, i have been machining for about 4 years, making custom order parts (nothing gun related) but would like to start, have alot of time and ideas. Thank you for the input. |
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Pretty looking, but will take quite a bit of effort to machine. I'm a function-over-form guy myself, so I tend to pass on the extra work required to put in all those extra little details, but that's just me. To each his own. I assume you've done a good bit of machining work before - how many axes does your machine have? A good number of those angled/swept cuts look like they'll either require a 4th axis, some serious fixturing or a lot of ball mill time. Like I said, I'm lazy, and don't waste my time with that stuff, but it does make for a visually pleasing receiver. As far as not having the FFL - I would avoid anything related to the receiver, fcg and muzzle devices. Assembly tools and the like can be useful, and I've fancied making my own rail attachments for various applications. Outside of that, I do totally unrelated work to earn money - far fewer questions, and better cash flow. Good luck! I have a 4 axis machine, i have been machining for about 4 years, making custom order parts (nothing gun related) but would like to start, have alot of time and ideas. Thank you for the input. Sounds like you're on the right track! ETA: Don't forget the holes for the detents for the takedown and pivot pins. I thread my pivot pin retainers for a setscrew so I don't have to ham-hand the retaining plate when putting on the buffer tube. |
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As someone already mentioned there are some edges that could use a radius on them. Also, what are these tabs for? http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/caboose314/AAAAAAAAAAA.png the upper is a side charger, which means no charging handle, the space is still needed for the bcg to be inserted in the upper... the tab would be a screw that will be secured to the upper once the bcg is inserted.... |
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As someone already mentioned there are some edges that could use a radius on them. Also, what are these tabs for? http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt122/caboose314/AAAAAAAAAAA.png ETA: related to elimination of the standard charging handle? Looks like this is intended to have a fixed charging lever on the bolt. I'm guessing that is just a cosmetic method of "plugging the hole" the charging handle would have gone into. |
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How are you going to cut the magwell? Can we see pics of your shop? not sure, i did a 80% with my mill once, but not really sure as i have not ran that through virtual cam to cut in the cnc.... that will be a learning curve once i get to it.... i have been machining for about 4 years, but mostly gears and brackets, so this is my first attempt at gun parts.... i have a LMS 3501 with a 4th axis.... I will post some pics once i clean the garage, the machine got here friday and its a mess in here. |
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How are you going to cut the magwell? Can we see pics of your shop? not sure, i did a 80% with my mill once, but not really sure as i have not ran that through virtual cam to cut in the cnc.... that will be a learning curve once i get to it.... i have been machining for about 4 years, but mostly gears and brackets, so this is my first attempt at gun parts.... i have a LMS 3501 with a 4th axis.... I will post some pics once i clean the garage, the machine got here friday and its a mess in here. Not saying it can't but that is a sieg x1 if i'm not mistaken. Is alot to ask for that little dude. Looks like they beefed up the column a bit though. |
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How are you going to cut the magwell? Can we see pics of your shop? not sure, i did a 80% with my mill once, but not really sure as i have not ran that through virtual cam to cut in the cnc.... that will be a learning curve once i get to it.... i have been machining for about 4 years, but mostly gears and brackets, so this is my first attempt at gun parts.... i have a LMS 3501 with a 4th axis.... I will post some pics once i clean the garage, the machine got here friday and its a mess in here. Not saying it can't but that is a sieg x1 if i'm not mistaken. Is alot to ask for that little dude. Looks like they beefed up the column a bit though. i did alot of research before settling with the LMS cnc, it is a upgraded x1, i know im going to be limited, but i should not have a problem cutting these small pieces... Hopefully... |
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How are you going to cut the magwell? Can we see pics of your shop? not sure, i did a 80% with my mill once, but not really sure as i have not ran that through virtual cam to cut in the cnc.... that will be a learning curve once i get to it.... i have been machining for about 4 years, but mostly gears and brackets, so this is my first attempt at gun parts.... i have a LMS 3501 with a 4th axis.... I will post some pics once i clean the garage, the machine got here friday and its a mess in here. Not saying it can't but that is a sieg x1 if i'm not mistaken. Is alot to ask for that little dude. Looks like they beefed up the column a bit though. i did alot of research before settling with the LMS cnc, it is a upgraded x1, i know im going to be limited, but i should not have a problem cutting these small pieces... Hopefully... For the size i always thought the sx1 with a stouter column and belt would be better than the x2's. There are a few x, bf, rf and i think even a tormach owner on here. Brace for the bridgeport guys. |
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How are you going to cut the magwell? Can we see pics of your shop? not sure, i did a 80% with my mill once, but not really sure as i have not ran that through virtual cam to cut in the cnc.... that will be a learning curve once i get to it.... i have been machining for about 4 years, but mostly gears and brackets, so this is my first attempt at gun parts.... i have a LMS 3501 with a 4th axis.... I will post some pics once i clean the garage, the machine got here friday and its a mess in here. Not saying it can't but that is a sieg x1 if i'm not mistaken. Is alot to ask for that little dude. Looks like they beefed up the column a bit though. i did alot of research before settling with the LMS cnc, it is a upgraded x1, i know im going to be limited, but i should not have a problem cutting these small pieces... Hopefully... For the size i always thought the sx1 with a stouter column and belt would be better than the x2's. There are a few x, bf, rf and i think even a tormach owner on here. Brace for the bridgeport guys. I have a 3960 converted already, i will use that one if the 3501 does not give me the results i am looking for... was thinking about getting the tormach PCNC 770 from LMS (was my second choice), might still get it. I have a friend that has already offered to purchase the 3501.... any suggestions? |
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How are you going to cut the magwell? Can we see pics of your shop? not sure, i did a 80% with my mill once, but not really sure as i have not ran that through virtual cam to cut in the cnc.... that will be a learning curve once i get to it.... i have been machining for about 4 years, but mostly gears and brackets, so this is my first attempt at gun parts.... i have a LMS 3501 with a 4th axis.... I will post some pics once i clean the garage, the machine got here friday and its a mess in here. Not saying it can't but that is a sieg x1 if i'm not mistaken. Is alot to ask for that little dude. Looks like they beefed up the column a bit though. i did alot of research before settling with the LMS cnc, it is a upgraded x1, i know im going to be limited, but i should not have a problem cutting these small pieces... Hopefully... For the size i always thought the sx1 with a stouter column and belt would be better than the x2's. There are a few x, bf, rf and i think even a tormach owner on here. Brace for the bridgeport guys. I have a 3960 converted already, i will use that one if the 3501 does not give me the results i am looking for... was thinking about getting the tormach PCNC 770 from LMS (was my second choice), might still get it. I have a friend that has already offered to purchase the 3501.... any suggestions? I don't even have a mill so no advice from me.I have been thinking about one for a few years. For a year or so a bf30 has looked nice. Like all the other smaller mills the column is lacking. Most of what i want to do is aluminum also but there would still be resonance. If you want any kind of production will these motors ,ways and cheap ball screws hold up? Some of the money that is put in these hobby mills could land you a real used vmc like another poster in this thread said before. Then the space issue. So many choices and things to learn. The drawing part is easy. Well one suggestion if you don't go turnkey again buy the other one and make what you need to get the new one up and running before you sell. |
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rotary table machine - https://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3501&category= 4th axis - https://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3519&category= ––––- not sure if im allowed to post this on here.... 
You are going to this on THAT? Hope you have a large cup of luck on your side...it will at least be a learning experience. Have you ever done anything that big and that tight on this machine? |
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Pretty looking, but will take quite a bit of effort to machine. I'm a function-over-form guy myself, so I tend to pass on the extra work required to put in all those extra little details, but that's just me. To each his own. I assume you've done a good bit of machining work before - how many axes does your machine have? A good number of those angled/swept cuts look like they'll either require a 4th axis, some serious fixturing or a lot of ball mill time. Like I said, I'm lazy, and don't waste my time with that stuff, but it does make for a visually pleasing receiver. As far as not having the FFL - I would avoid anything related to the receiver, fcg and muzzle devices. Assembly tools and the like can be useful, and I've fancied making my own rail attachments for various applications. Outside of that, I do totally unrelated work to earn money - far fewer questions, and better cash flow. Good luck! I have a 4 axis machine, i have been machining for about 4 years, making custom order parts (nothing gun related) but would like to start, have alot of time and ideas. Thank you for the input. Hold on a minute. Have you ever ran a CNC before? I just noticed you said "machining for about 4 years" ––is this real, like for-a-living job shop machining, or at your house as a hobby? If the latter, I am here trying to save you lots of $$ in billet and your time and frustration level...start with something easier and work your way up. Some rings or rails or something if it has to be gun stuff...but that would be a tough one to get right if that was your first one on a GOOD machine. |
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They look neat. I'm curious how you're going to hold your work piece once you start surfacing the outer profiles. One easy way is to drill the pivot and takedown pin holes first, and one through the trigger guard, then just bolt it to a tooling plate. Gives you plenty of rigidity, and makes it easy to work around for the most part. The upper receiver would be a bit different, although with the side charge, he should be able to do the same thing. To get the inside of the upper bored out will most likely require a lathe, so he could start with a few holes drilled through where the slot will be, then turn the inside, then bolt through the charging slot to mill one side, and the ejection port to do the other. The details will still be tough though, especially with those profiles on the ejection side of the upper. In either case, the variables of workholding, tooling rigidity and machine rigidity will be king in determining the finish that comes out the other end. As far as tolerances go, the fcg pocket doesn't need to be as tight as a watch gear, nor does most of the magwell. Getting the pins in the right spot is important, but locating the machine for drilling simple holes at the outset shouldn't be terribly difficult. I've seen more difficult things done. I've seen a complete lower done on an X2 converted to CNC. Doable? Yes. Easy? No. Very much no. Good luck, OP. Play on whatever experience you can find. Plenty to be learned in the Gunsmithing section, over at the Armory. ETA: You might start by trying to make one out of a really easy-to-machine material, like a machinable plastic. |
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I wasn't insinuating that it was impossible, or even hard to do, I am just curious how much thought the OP has put into it. I wasn't so much trying to put those words in your mouth as much as I was giving OP some suggestions and words of encouragement  There are some aspects to machining what he wants to machine that will indeed turn out to be difficult.
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