User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 2:05:09 PM EDT
[#1]
the trigger/hammer pins would probably spiderweb or elongate.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 2:25:33 PM EDT
[#2]
I think polycarbonate or polysulfone would hold up better.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 3:23:42 PM EDT
[#3]
Sounds like it would look like a toy. I'd bet the media would have a field day if an AR lower was made out of a transparent material.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 3:41:55 PM EDT
[#4]
It would be cool as hell though to get a video of it getting fired.
-C4- |
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 4:25:21 PM EDT
[#5]
My thought exactly!! |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 4:34:11 PM EDT
[#6]
Eli75 is correct...if possible at all it would have to be polycarb.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 4:41:13 PM EDT
[#7]
[Scotty Voice] Can’t you just make it out of transparent aluminum? [Scotty Voice \]
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 10:00:14 PM EDT
[#8]
Holy crap. http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif I can't believe somebody else thought of that, too... http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 10:12:22 PM EDT
[#9]
|
||
|
|
|
Posted: 1/18/2006 10:43:04 PM EDT
[#10]
Really? Ima hafta do sum serchin' fer dat. That's pretty slick. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:22:15 AM EDT
[#11]
Think I found it: Transparent Aluminum (actually "alumina")
http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content/aluminate-glass.jpg Pretty wacky, huh? |
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:29:55 AM EDT
[#12]
Jeez, come on guys!
Alumina is aluminum oxide. In single crystal form, alumina is known as sapphire and is used for optical windows, etc. In amorphous/polycrystalline form it is a very common material used in the electronics industry as a heat conducting insulator. Saying alumina is "transparent aluminum" is like saying diamond is transparent coal. An even better analogy would be like saying carbon dioxide is transparent coal. The oxide is a different chemical compound. Compounds have different properties than the elements they are made of. Remember you high school chemistry???? Has our educational system broken down THAT badly? |
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:39:35 AM EDT
[#13]
Interesting enough, but I'm thinking about a material more easily available like the blocks of an acrylic like material used in sculputure. We've all seen those clear cube blocks with a pixilized image in it. Seems fairly sturdy and should be cheap too.
I'll see if I can find a pic of what I'm talking about. |
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:45:03 AM EDT
[#14]
There is also a polycrystalline aluminum oxynitride that has been developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory with Raytheon. Google "ALONTM " .
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:45:10 AM EDT
[#15]
Transparent aluminum would allow the TinFoilHatters to leave their homes, still wear their hats, yet still blend in with the general public. |
||
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:45:32 AM EDT
[#16]
something like this
link |
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 8:52:03 AM EDT
[#17]
I could finally LIVE!!! |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 9:12:36 AM EDT
[#18]
You could try to make it out of a block of Lexan (or a similar polycarbonate) but Lexan is weird to cut. It takes a very high chip load to cut otherwise it tends to melt and gall up the cutter. This results in the tooling wanting to push the work piece around unless your fixturing is very strong. I've seen lexan pop out of a vice because of this (wasn't my part I'd take the time to make hold downs on the softjaws). It would be a very challenging project, very expensive. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 1:03:09 PM EDT
[#19]
Just get one of these and convert it over:
 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 1:10:20 PM EDT
[#20]
Didn't the anti's try to get Glocks banned cause the polymer frame could be burned. Thus making the gun not only undetectable to metal detectors but disposable as well. You're making a disposable rifle arn't you!
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 2:46:37 PM EDT
[#21]
Cavalry Arms does this by fusion welding two molded pieces together. Bushmaster uses carbon fiber and a resin.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 6:00:00 PM EDT
[#22]
don't know what type of material it is but...
a business acquaintance of mine works for GM. of course he bitches about is retirement nonstop, but when he isn't crying me a river he lets loose of some pretty cool information. he claims GM has been testing for years various plastics for making engine parts, specifically engine blocks... he told me they had used a steel liner for the cylinder wall and the remainder was plastic. no bearings, no nothing... just plastic of various sorts... it stands to reason that a lower can be made easily... i know the carbon 15 and others have been around, but when i asked this guy questions about it, he made it sound like it can be machined like a metal and had equivalent strength in the same thicknesses... pretty neat stuff... septic tank 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/19/2006 6:11:25 PM EDT
[#23]
Well, you could do it; I dunno how practical a "transparent" AR would be, but it can be done.
Just check the HK USP45 on display in the "Grey Room" at Heckler & Koch's museum at their Headquarters in Obendorf, Germany.  Impossible is nothing, as the commercial goes. Now, figure that the UMP is chambered in .45 ACP; it can be deduced that if this clear polycarbonate composite can withstand a 230 grain 45 slug in full auto, I think it can take a 55 grain 5.56mm in full auto as well. But that's just me thinking out loud.  |
|
|
|
Posted: 1/20/2006 5:34:53 AM EDT
[#24]
You could make it out of G10 with standard tools. G10 is only translucenct, but you could still see what was going on inside. Some guy made an autococker entirely out of G10 that could easily take the full pressure of CO2 inside. He said it wore out tools really fast due to the glass content but that it milled like brass. He helicoiled all the threads for strength. As far as I know, the gun is still in use. You might even be able to make an upper out of G10.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/20/2006 12:44:07 PM EDT
[#25]
HOLY #@#@$@#.... Although if I recall someone also invented transparent concrete a while ago... I guess you can make anything transparent if you have enough time and money. -C4- |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 1/20/2006 3:05:41 PM EDT
[#26]
The transparent concrete is regular concrete with fiber optic strands embedded in it. |
||
|
|
|
Posted: 1/20/2006 7:40:09 PM EDT
[#27]
I didn't really remember how they had done it, but I knew they did it.... thanks for the info. -C4- |
|||
|
|
|
Posted: 1/20/2006 10:14:54 PM EDT
[#28]
Differential covers are available in a clear plastic allowing easy viewing of the ring and pinion. They're also stronger than steel.
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
.jpg)
