laurencen Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 over the last couple years we have 3d printed a mold for wax casting, another idea out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUNGUY45 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Yes, wax is available for this purpose, but "it Ain't Cheap!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARK2112 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 I just made a 1911 frame and slide on my 3D printer, the run time on these 2 parts was 16 hours, nice for development, but not production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin601 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Mark, is it easy to make a negative of the gun , say a mold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUNGUY45 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) Paladin, If you have a solid model, and the correct software, and know how to use it, it's not that bad.If you have to create the model, it's a bit more work.Don't forget the shrink values of the "investment material"(wax), and of the metal to be poured.Other than that it's a piece of cake... Also remember any holes in the casting need to be cored, and the cores must draw out. The attached photos are of a revolver barrel die.as you can see it is being cast with no hole through it, they get a better quality casting this way, it's also difficult to build a ceramic shell in a long small dia hole. You can make the die on a 3D printer, but the plastic materials don't conduct heat well. Edited November 21, 2014 by GUNGUY45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin601 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 Thanks Gunguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwiifirearms Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 (edited) While this is a LITTLE off the subject, it should be kept in mind that a number of parts for the Browning m.g.s made during WWII were cast in order to save material and machine time. I suppose that is the benefit to casting -- particularly investment casting. On a similar off-subject (sort of) issue: Was the NFA amended to prohibit the manufacture of full automatic weapons, or with this a part of the Gun Control Act? I'm not sure that the NFA should be blamed for all evils -- though I do question the effectiveness of it.It was neither the NFA nor the GCA, it was the Firearm Owners Protection Act (ironically) of 1986. Specifically the Hughes amendment.Back on topic, my investment cast Thompson is still holding up just fine after almost 30 years. Tested it this weekend. Edited November 24, 2014 by wwiifirearms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now