Bally Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I've put this on the CTN forums but since it's actually for my KT it's more relevant here. 3D models are from Cmdrappo over there. I found out that the guys upstairs at work have a new 3D printer so I got myself some material and got to work. At the recommendation of one of the engineers that use it, I'm using PLA to see how it goes. It's not on the finest setting to save time but it looks pretty good to me so far on the small pieces that have been done and the layering should sand out very easily. Any imperfections are due to issues with the machine. The edges have come up very sharp and even the hole in the back of the trigger for the spring is very defined. Still clearing out the supports from the recess in the large end of the scope so won't bother showing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferra Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 ...I got some mates with a 3D printer... How would one aquire the files? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexous Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 That looks good for a filament printer! PLA in my opinion for those types of printers yield the best results, ABS typically requires a lot more of a controlled environment due to the nature of the material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 ...I got some mates with a 3D printer... How would one aquire the files? There is a lot available from 3D pinting/design hosting sites. Just google "3D printed ???" and you'll find them. There are also people around the various 501st Detachments that have designed their own. I got the one that I'm using from here. That looks good for a filament printer! PLA in my opinion for those types of printers yield the best results, ABS typically requires a lot more of a controlled environment due to the nature of the material. That's pretty much what the engineer that's looking after it said, i.e.- that PLA handles the heat a lot better. They found with ABS they had to use a piece of cardboard to block the open side of the machine so it didn't get any airflow through it, as well as use the heated bed, or it tended to warp or curl up. My only concern with the PLA is it's strength. I'm thinking for the larger pieces, once they're cleaned up, to make some molds for resin casting, however I've never used resin and will be learning from scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Rear of the receiver and "bit that sits on top" done. Leaving the butt to run over the weekend. 5 hours down, 53 to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 After having 2 cracks at the butt which both stuffed up due to filament jamming, the guy at work with the CNC machine gave it a go. Obviously it's done in 2 halves and still needs some tidying up. For some reason the groove that should be in the front end isn't there (might be a CNC issue) and there's a weird groove that's been taken out of one side at the rear. Nothing that can't be solved with some putty though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferra Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Nice! We need more updates like this bro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 Rear barrel part done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted August 19, 2015 Author Share Posted August 19, 2015 Magazine receiver done. Edit: and the magazine. The internal supports are still in though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 Well I've managed to get a few more pieces printed but have been told I can't use the printer anymore, even though I'm using my own material. Pistol grip, lower rail and rear sight pieces. And yeah, as per the WoF plans, that pistol grip is huge. Here it is in my carny sized hand for comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERB Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 i got myself a pla printer guess ill have to register a at the ctn to get the files Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmdrappo Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Hey, Appo here! I'm On this site too! Hit me up for files and commissions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted May 12, 2016 Author Share Posted May 12, 2016 It's been a while but there has been SOME progress. I started printing parts again earlier this year and had gotten most of it done before the kybosh was put on it again. The barrel segments are a lot of printing so as an alternative I'm using PVC pipe. The only issue is none have the exact outer-diameter I need, so I did some 2(pi)r and cut out a section of a larger pipe and am going to use this as the remainder of the barrel. This in turn creates it's own problems of fitting the subsequent barrel inner/insert into the receiver and the barrel but I'm hoping some expanding filler will be my saviour. I've also ordered my own 3D printer so I'll be able to print the last couple of parts I need, e.g.- muzzle. (I didn't have the timber butt with me for the photos, and sorry the lighting in this crappy room is pretty bad). Obviously I still have a lot of sanding to do, but other than that the parts match up like a big lego scene.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferra Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Brother may I suggest you don´t glue all the parts right away? Would you consider casting those and make a full kit? Do you think it would be affordable/Resistant like that? Cause i'm doing a '15S but my heart belongs to the '15A, and a Woodchuck's would put a huge dent in my wallet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 Brother may I suggest you don´t glue all the parts right away? Would you consider casting those and make a full kit? Do you think it would be affordable/Resistant like that? Cause i'm doing a '15S but my heart belongs to the '15A, and a Woodchuck's would put a huge dent in my wallet... To be quite honest this was my intention at the start but it's taken so long I just want to get the thing together right now. Because of the complexity of the thing it would end up needing to be a hybrid anyway. The main barrel parts you could assemble and rotocast so it's hollow. Same with the butt. The receiver and pistolgrip would be pretty difficult if not impossible to cast from what I can see, due to the number of hollow areas, 'through and through' sections and the way it's designed for a moveable trigger and possibly electronics. So you'd probably end up having to print them as required. I've printed the last pieces of this now and have started printing a DC-15S, but in ABS instead of PLA. I'm having the standard ABS warping issues at the moment though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERB Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 I was wondering if you got anywhere further with this, it's looking good! You got an idea how much filament it took ya? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share Posted May 14, 2016 I was wondering if you got anywhere further with this, it's looking good! You got an idea how much filament it took ya? The muzzle was pretty much the last thing I needed to do. It was one of my first prints on my new machine in ABS and it's got a bit of delamination in some layers. It's not a biggie though because most of it will be concealed and I'll just use some sludge on what won't. Other than that, due to one crappy layer in the receiver which led to it splitting while I was sanding it, I'll probably end up reprinting it too. Just got to sort out the ABS warping first. I'm using small parts of the DC-15S to trouble-shoot this. As far as how much filament? It's hard to say because I changed suppliers part way through it and have had a few partial prints wasted along the way. Ballpark... About 1 kg or so.. But that's based on what's left of 3 different spools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERB Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 The muzzle was pretty much the last thing I needed to do. It was one of my first prints on my new machine in ABS and it's got a bit of delamination in some layers. It's not a biggie though because most of it will be concealed and I'll just use some sludge on what won't. Other than that, due to one crappy layer in the receiver which led to it splitting while I was sanding it, I'll probably end up reprinting it too. Just got to sort out the ABS warping first. I'm using small parts of the DC-15S to trouble-shoot this. As far as how much filament? It's hard to say because I changed suppliers part way through it and have had a few partial prints wasted along the way. Ballpark... About 1 kg or so.. But that's based on what's left of 3 different spools. ~1kg is pretty good for something that size! Of course that doesn't include the milled stock and few other parts not entirely 3d printed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 I did some more 2(pi)r on a length of PVC pipe for the barrel inner and had the expected issue with the difference between its outer diameter and the barrel section inner diameter. I came up with what I think is a pretty simple solution and printed some rings that fill the required gap and keep the pipes at the right diameters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERB Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Not too shabby, keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bally Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 I've been working on the electronics (arduino based) for this and a couple of Cmdrappo designed DC-15S while I plod along on my Kashyyyk Trooper build. My plan was originally to have a 10 segment blue led bar mounted on the rear side of the rear sight and have it count down as ammunition is used, similar to the DC-17M electronics some may have seen. However when I received them they were a bit smaller than I expected and I think they'd look a bit silly there, so I've carved out a hole in the rear side of the magazine for the led bar and will use a 9 pin serial port (same as the DC-17M I think) to provide power to the led bar and controller chip and also detect when the magazine is not on the weapon. I've also put 2.5mm magnets into the holes for them on the magazine and magazine port. Although I have the butt done in timber, now that I have my own printer I've split it into 3 pieces (for risk management in case it c%*ps out half way through the print) and am printing those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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