JeepHammer
Moderator
A recent break-in left me short on equipment since the vandals/thieves broke more than they stole.
Anyone that builds bullet feeders knows .224 diameter bullets are the hardest to feed, maybe with the exception of .17
There are several 3D printing programs out there, and the printed feeders do work pretty darn well!
I don't have a 3D printer, and I'm not going to learn all the ins-outs of 3D printing, from what type of plastic to use, to getting the printer to actually make something since there a bunch of external vairables besides just the machine, plastic & programming.
You also have to think about spare/replacement parts, motor, electronics, mounts, etc.
Also consider the time, some of these 3D prints take between 14 & 24 hours...
If you have a machine shop, working in small scale isn't an issue.
If you have hand tools, you know it can be a challenge to find 1/4" (0.250") tooling for routers, soft material files, etc.
So, this time I'm shooting for a bullet feeder that uses common or easy to access parts.
Easy to assemble, as many common parts as possible, no complicated electronics.
If it costs more than about $20 I don't intend to use it (less some common power tools).
An example is an AC gear motor in the correct speed in the first place.
eBay has them for $20 (or less). Common household current, rotates either direction, cheap enough to have a replacement handy.
This will reduce complications considerably...
DC takes a converter power supply, and usually it's in the wrong speed, so it needs a speed controller.
The number of bullets dropped is usually a function of how many bullet slots are on the rotor, not exclusively motor/rotor speed...
The bowl will be a common PVC pipe cap.
These are dirt cheap, available anywhere plumbing supplies are sold, and common PVC pipe, fittings & glue will make for a sold, easy build.
Common wood working tools do a pretty good job shaping it too...
It could be metal or something exotic, or even a cook pot, but this gives a standard size/starting point to work from so dimensions can be given.
SO! Off to the races!
If you have any ideas, feel free to add them, but I'm not interested in arguments for this or that.
If you want to argue for 3D printing, start a thread for that.
If you want to argue for MBF or some other, start a thread for that.
If you want to argue for pistol bullets, .30 cal or whatever, start a thread for that.
This is for .223/.224 diameter bullets, how to get ballistic tips, hollow points, soft points & FMJ to flip/feed, problems with boat tails, etc.
Anyone that builds bullet feeders knows .224 diameter bullets are the hardest to feed, maybe with the exception of .17
There are several 3D printing programs out there, and the printed feeders do work pretty darn well!
I don't have a 3D printer, and I'm not going to learn all the ins-outs of 3D printing, from what type of plastic to use, to getting the printer to actually make something since there a bunch of external vairables besides just the machine, plastic & programming.
You also have to think about spare/replacement parts, motor, electronics, mounts, etc.
Also consider the time, some of these 3D prints take between 14 & 24 hours...
If you have a machine shop, working in small scale isn't an issue.
If you have hand tools, you know it can be a challenge to find 1/4" (0.250") tooling for routers, soft material files, etc.
So, this time I'm shooting for a bullet feeder that uses common or easy to access parts.
Easy to assemble, as many common parts as possible, no complicated electronics.
If it costs more than about $20 I don't intend to use it (less some common power tools).
An example is an AC gear motor in the correct speed in the first place.
eBay has them for $20 (or less). Common household current, rotates either direction, cheap enough to have a replacement handy.
This will reduce complications considerably...
DC takes a converter power supply, and usually it's in the wrong speed, so it needs a speed controller.
The number of bullets dropped is usually a function of how many bullet slots are on the rotor, not exclusively motor/rotor speed...
The bowl will be a common PVC pipe cap.
These are dirt cheap, available anywhere plumbing supplies are sold, and common PVC pipe, fittings & glue will make for a sold, easy build.
Common wood working tools do a pretty good job shaping it too...
It could be metal or something exotic, or even a cook pot, but this gives a standard size/starting point to work from so dimensions can be given.
SO! Off to the races!
If you have any ideas, feel free to add them, but I'm not interested in arguments for this or that.
If you want to argue for 3D printing, start a thread for that.
If you want to argue for MBF or some other, start a thread for that.
If you want to argue for pistol bullets, .30 cal or whatever, start a thread for that.
This is for .223/.224 diameter bullets, how to get ballistic tips, hollow points, soft points & FMJ to flip/feed, problems with boat tails, etc.