[Mx201er]

This really isn't anything special or that much different than other belt loaders out there, but I wanted to design one from scratch, so here was the prototype. I designed this a while back, before i had a mill, but decided to construct it anyways and see how it works. All of the red is 3D printed ABS. Now that I do have a mill I can use to make nice straight grooves and a better stop for the links to rest against, I am planning to make a nice one out of hardwood. But this one served its purpose, I linked a thousand rounds this weekend!

Please excuse the mess; completing projects seems more important than cleaning the shop

 

[Hawk]

Very cool! Nice job.

 

[brassmagnet]

Nicely done - the finished product should be eye pleasing to boot. These 3-D printers sure have come into there own.....amazing.

 

[L999here]

Wtg....!!

Nicely done...!! Seems that a 3D printed item would be cheaper and easier to mfg than a metal item. Just the cost of material would seem to make the difference. I'd prefer a plastic one anyway.

 

[belt fed frog]

Fantastic and it matches the vehicle too :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[Mx201er]

Fantastic and it matches the vehicle too :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

That was one of the original design constraints

Thanks, all.
3d printers have definitely come a long way, and I've found them invaluable for prototyping. You can use the same 3d model to print a part that you use to create tool paths for CNC machining, in order to verify it works/fits before wasting expensive material. Well, that is what I used it for when I had access to a full machine shop...
I think finished hardwood is much more aesthetically pleasing for a final project.

 

[Mr.Maim]

Very nice! It is always great to see 3D printed items put to functional use!

Now for the details:

- What design software did you use?
- Did you 3D print, or have it done?
- - If you did it, what printer do you have?
- - If you had it printed who did you use?

...and lastly, what kind of mill did you get?


I'm on the fence on which software to jump into (Solidworks or Fusion 360), where to have larger items done (Shapeways, 3DSystems, etc.), and what milling machines to start looking into.

 

[Hawk]

Very nice! It is always great to see 3D printed items put to functional use!

Now for the details:

- What design software did you use?
- Did you 3D print, or have it done?
- - If you did it, what printer do you have?
- - If you had it printed who did you use?

...and lastly, what kind of mill did you get?


I'm on the fence on which software to jump into (Solidworks or Fusion 360), where to have larger items done (Shapeways, 3DSystems, etc.), and what milling machines to start looking into.

F360 is free and pretty easy to learn Solidworks starts at ~4000. It was a pretty easy choice for me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[osiek]

Outstanding

 

[Mx201er]

Very nice! It is always great to see 3D printed items put to functional use!

Now for the details:

- What design software did you use?
- Did you 3D print, or have it done?
- - If you did it, what printer do you have?
- - If you had it printed who did you use?

...and lastly, what kind of mill did you get?


I'm on the fence on which software to jump into (Solidworks or Fusion 360), where to have larger items done (Shapeways, 3DSystems, etc.), and what milling machines to start looking into.

I use Autodesk inventor right now, it's a pretty easy parametric modeling program that I have access to through work. It allows entire assemblies of parts with fixed or moving constraints, which is very handy for designing.
When I was doing CNC machining at college, I used MasterCam.

I bought a Flashforge CreatorX a few years back. I go through phases that I use it a often, but it also sits around a lot. I've printed working lowers, and I just used it to prototype a feed ramp for an Uzi build. Now that I know the feed ramp works well, I'll machine one.

Well I said mill, but I suppose it's technically a mill/drill. It's a round column machine identical to a grizzly g1007, but I bought a harbor freight knock off. It's not a Haas, but I'm really happy with it for the price and amount of room that I have. Eventually I'll have a shop, and will have room for some real equipment of my own.

 

[Mx201er]

Unrelated to the original topic, but while we are talking about 3d printing... I modeled this crank today and I'm printing it right now, and if all goes well I'll try it out this weekend.
I started playing around with aluminum casting a couple years ago; I am not awesome at it, but I am able to use 3d printed parts like this odd shaped "gear" to make a mold, and cast it out of aluminum fairly easily.

[video]https://www.dropbox.com/s/lzzcnsqbyedlajo/Crank.webm?raw=1[/video]

 

[theweasel]

Looks familiar.

 

[Mx201er]

Looks familiar.

Haha, uh oh.. I just modeled it based upon this picture I downloaded from gunbroker a couple months back, hopefully nobody minds if it was originally designed by somebody on here.

 

[Mr.Maim]

F360 is free and pretty easy to learn Solidworks starts at ~4000. It was a pretty easy choice for me.

Yeah i keep trying to find a Student Edition or Small Biz/Hobbyist Edition. Apparently Solidworks doesn't want new users. LAME.

I use Autodesk inventor right now, it's a pretty easy parametric modeling program that I have access to through work. It allows entire assemblies of parts with fixed or moving constraints, which is very handy for designing.
When I was doing CNC machining at college, I used MasterCam.

I bought a Flashforge CreatorX a few years back. I go through phases that I use it a often, but it also sits around a lot. I've printed working lowers, and I just used it to prototype a feed ramp for an Uzi build. Now that I know the feed ramp works well, I'll machine one.

Well I said mill, but I suppose it's technically a mill/drill. It's a round column machine identical to a grizzly g1007, but I bought a harbor freight knock off. It's not a Haas, but I'm really happy with it for the price and amount of room that I have. Eventually I'll have a shop, and will have room for some real equipment of my own.

Thanks for the detail I appreciate it! I'm looking for something (software) that is well used and accepted and that can export g-code. Looks like I'll be looking at Fusion 360 and Autocad Inventor LT.

Gotcha (on the 3D printer).

Also understood on the mill. So many choices.

Thanks again!

 

[theweasel]

Haha, uh oh.. I just modeled it based upon this picture I downloaded from gunbroker a couple months back, hopefully nobody minds if it was originally designed by somebody on here.

View attachment 84917

Not to worry the designer considers a compliment from an engineer. J.R.

 

[Mx201er]

Not to worry the designer considers a compliment from an engineer. J.R.

I'm just a sparky that doesn't know my place :rofl: Somehow I keep ending up in the shop. Thanks for doing the hard part, it seems like a great design.

 

[CAPTEOD]

Your Design

Would you be willing to share the drawings and STL files with me. I have a 3D Printer, CNC Milling Machine, and am Professional Engineer. I know I can duplicate your design but this way I can save time and might make it work before transferring the design to my CNC Mill and make it out of METAL. I will offer you the metal parts as a reward.:help:

 

[Mx201er]

Would you be willing to share the drawings and STL files with me. I have a 3D Printer, CNC Milling Machine, and am Professional Engineer. I know I can duplicate your design but this way I can save time and might make it work before transferring the design to my CNC Mill and make it out of METAL. I will offer you the metal parts as a reward.:help:

If you're referring to the linker, than most certainly. If you're referring to the crank, since the designer and seller is a fellow member on here I should probably not spread the design around. I hope you understand.

 

[Cal.BAR]

plate linker

You just "invented" the Ohio Ordinance Plate linker almost piece for piece.
https://www.oowinc.com/1919a4/. Except theirs can do ANY .30 cal round. ( I use mine for 7.62x54R AND 7.62.39)

By having your belt run through it at a certain point, you are limited as to the length of the round you are linking.

 

[Mx201er]

You just "invented" the Ohio Ordinance Plate linker almost piece for piece.
https://www.oowinc.com/1919a4/. Except theirs can do ANY .30 cal round. ( I use mine for 7.62x54R AND 7.62.39)

By having your belt run through it at a certain point, you are limited as to the length of the round you are linking.

Wow, that is eerily similar. But then again, the technology hasn't changed much in the last hundred years. The first one I tried to design was a rotary style, similar to a minigun action. It would lie horizontal and need a gravity fed magazine of sorts to feed links and a hopper for cartridges, and would spit a continuous belt out the opposite side. The printed prototype didn't work well, mostly because of flexing/binding of the plastic.
I imagine this is the same principle of a minigun de-linker, but I've never been able to find any drawings of one.