Posted on 05/20/2013 3:02:48 PM PDT by marktwain
Taofledermaus has done some experimentation with 3D printing of 12 gauge projectiles. They have had mixed results, but it is clear that there is promise in this approach. Combining the base wad with the projectile, while incorporting a hole in the nose for an embeded penetrator is one obvious possibility.
Making the projectile solid, with a hollowed base, could also strengthen the projectile and improve performance.
The slow motion video of the firing is fascinating to watch.
Dean Weingarten
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7877849#allposts/postNum=0
The video can be found at the link.
for the 3d printer ping list
Are they really trying to generate the ability to print bullets and cartridges?
All of this is merely interesting, as criminal acquisition of conventional firearms is a bit easier, at least at present.
Let me know when I can print a nuclear ICBM that I can fire from outer-space.....
And lasers for my sharks.....
Aren’t you supposed to cut the sprues off of those?
http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/taofledermaus-has-done-some.html
Here is the correct link to find the video!
Political power grows out of the nozzle of a 3-D Printer!
Looks like the printed material would be good to deliver a oddly shaped projectile or gas canister. I could see using the printer to make an aerodynamic delivery of something besides just lead balls like the newer steel duck loads that use conical or square shaped pellets.
Just set them pointing forward. I took a lot more care when I was shooting in matches but the ones in the picture will do just fine for hunting. The big thing is making sure they have no internal voids.
Do you weigh them to determine that?
A friend of mine had a mortar. He used beer cans filled with cement.
Is there a link that doesn’t require one to join google?
*nevermind*
Only way to tell.
We used oxygen bottles with one end removed with a cutting torch and polished with a grinder.
Projectile was a bowling ball. Propellant was propane. Igniter was a standard Piezo out of a BBQ grill.
Made a big boom. Threw a bowling ball out of sight.
Ammo was policed up from a defunct bowling alley.
That was a lot of fun.
Printing propellant and priming is a bit further off,
***If you have those chemicals, can you simply add them during the process? Those chemicals have been around for centuries.
I think it could be done. We know that black powder is a mixture of finely ground charcoal,potassium nitrate, and sulfur in a 6/1/1 ratio. I see no reason why a 3D printer that had 3 supply heads could not print black powder from moist mixtures of the three powders finely ground and moistened to toothpase consistency. Print the powder grains on plastic with a slight separation, let dry, and harvest by careful scraping with a wood scraper.
Production could be sped up by having a automated base feed for that went under a drying lamp and through a slot to scrape the powder into a container.
Just do small quantities at a time, maybe a couple of ounces.
toothpase should be toothpaste
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