reconbob Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 I know some of you take an interest in this. One of the big machines is now set up tomake trigger frames. We start with a raw bar of steel and machine it into a blank. Thenit goes in the machine and the first step is to machine the left side. See photos. When this isdone we engrave the fire/safe and full auto/single markings while there is a flat solid pieceto absorb the engraving.The order of operations after this is right side, bottom, top, and front.I will post another picture when the right side is done. (Hopefully not too long from now.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin601 Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 That is nice, thanks Bob for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piep Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 BobWe look forward to seeing "the rest of the story". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Hi Recon Bob, Just thinking out loud. Ever try a 6061-T6 lower to check out the tool paths? Might be fun to try one to lighten the Thompson Gun for younger shooters (especially with the 22LR conversion installed). Bad idea? Grasshopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Being an engineer and a wanna be machinist, I love to see these type of posts from you. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted April 5, 2018 Report Share Posted April 5, 2018 Interesting! Looking forward to seeing the rest of it. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted April 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 Right side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppgcowboy Posted April 8, 2018 Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 These are interesting. How long does it take? Is this a computer controlled machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted April 8, 2018 Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 Is a frame more or less complicated then a receiver to make? Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThompsonCrazy Posted April 8, 2018 Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 Can you produce a few with no markings or with 1st pattern Colt? TC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted April 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2018 I would say the receiver is easier because you start with a rectangular bar and the finished receiveris also a rectangle which is easily clampedor held in a variety of fixtures. The trigger frame is tough because it is wide at the front and narrowat the back. So you can't just clamp it or hold in a vise without making special jaws or fixtures. We aredoing the bottom now and this is the fixture I had to make to be able to machine the bottom. The entirefixture (or tombstone) rotates. At 90 degree rotation the side of the trigger frame faces the spindle sothe bottom of the frame can be profiles. Then it rotates 90 degree and now the bottom (as you see inthe picture) is facing the spindle to do the 45 deg cuts at the back the buttstock lug, the buttstockscrew holes etc. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piep Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 BobThis is very informative.How long does it take to machine a lower frame?Have you determined a price for the lower yet?Thank you for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJX Posted April 10, 2018 Report Share Posted April 10, 2018 BobThanks for taking the time to post all of these photos.Very interesting to see the various stages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted April 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 Bottom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R67 Posted April 13, 2018 Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 Bob, the process is really interesting to see. Thanks for sharing. Does it take a seperate jig to create 1921/1928 style lowers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anticus Posted April 13, 2018 Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 Can you make custom lowers for the semi autos (WH,Kahr) too ? Doug once made some street legal ones that did away with the .1" receiver height difference and mag catch problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piep Posted April 13, 2018 Report Share Posted April 13, 2018 BobHow much do you selling them for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted April 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 I am making the trigger frames for the blank guns. In the pastthere was almost no interest and the few that I sold ended up sellingat a loss. I am not posting this to sell trigger frames but to showwhat is involved in making them. If I was to put a price on them itwould be $495. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted April 14, 2018 Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 I have one of Bob's blank guns and the trigger frame (and the rest of the gun) is beautiful. The frame is completely interchangeable with an original, and takes original parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted April 14, 2018 Report Share Posted April 14, 2018 Very interesting. Can you show it finished? Do you usually finish them in bright bluing, dull black/blue like ww2 M1s, or park? Or does it depend on customer request? Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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