Yes indeed I have! My only issue right now is the 3D printing service I use is verrrrrrry slow (it took more than 4 hours to produce the two halves shown in the video). I'm also looking at a home CNC mill.
Right now it's just an issue of demand. The number one inquiry I get from people is regarding buckshot moulds. With that said, PC'd bullet moulds are much simpler to produce than conventional cast bullet moulds so they're definitely on the list.
How about 3D printing production units of your wad cutter with minimal bits of metal inserts for the actual cutting? I personally use OpenSCAD for my 3D design work.
I'd really like to see someone make buckshot molds with sprue plates. Spending hours cutting each one really causes the hands to flare up. I've often wondered why no one does.
My original design actually included a double sprue plate (top and bottom) but it would have roughly doubled the cost of the mould. My goal is to make the most usable tool possible but it has to be at a price people can actually afford to and will willingly pay unfortunately.
As I'd be contracting these out, it would almost definitely have to be one or the other. To produce less than 25 would cost nearly $200/each... They really only become feasible with you hit 50-100 identical units.
A little off topic for the video, but I would suggest 3 changes to your mold: 1 move the cavities to tangent with the mold survace. 2) Order 2 lee sprue cutter plate assemblies, or make one from blank stainless steel stock to match your # of cavities. I think their cammed handles are perfect. 3) countersink the mounting screws so as not to interfere with the sprue plates. Here's my thinking. For most buckshot molds, I think the time /yield is terrible. Not only do most people get incomplete fill out , so most pours don't really get the full number, but the time spent trimming sprues and having irregular shot is a huge waste. If the sprue cutter is aproximately tangent to the sphere, you have miimal sprues. Your casting time would go up by the time required to open and close the sprue cutters, but I think your cavites would fill consistently, and you would eliminate the trimming operation. That time would add up fast.
Alternate to #2. Make two sprue plates, with a stop pin so that they slam "home". put the pivot pins and stop pins such that you have over hang of the sprue plate similar to Arsenal molds, etc. AND make sure that one swat of your gloved hand pushes both sprue plates to the same direction. As in- not rotationally symmetrical. This would give you a simpler hand motion, and probably more speed.
Hi GunFun ZS; I had actually originally designed it in almost the exact fashion you're describing, complete with flush-mounted sprue plate, but it sent the cost per unit through the roof. My goal is to be able to price these very competitively. With the 'deluxe' design I originally started out with, it would have cost well over $120USD per mould which is just too much for a lot of people.
My originally design had a top and bottom mounted plate that were connected at the ends with a shared hinge pin. I'd still love to do it that way bu so far it's been cost-prohibitive.
Thanks very much; the mould needs a bit more work to get the alignment pins and pour holes right, but it won't take me long. The new punch design worked better than I'd hoped so I'm very pleased with it.
I contacted about two dozen shops back in Fall of last year, only one would even consider the volume I'm interested in and they wanted an absurd amount per unit. I found two manufacturers overseas who were reasonable around the same time, one turned around and tripled their price quote, the other sounds plausible. I'm just really disappointed I can't seem to find a reasonably priced shop in North America.
chocolate buckshot
Have you considered lost PLA casting to cast your own mould?
Yes indeed I have! My only issue right now is the 3D printing service I use is verrrrrrry slow (it took more than 4 hours to produce the two halves shown in the video). I'm also looking at a home CNC mill.
You have some skill . Why not design up some powder coat bullet molds ?
Right now it's just an issue of demand. The number one inquiry I get from people is regarding buckshot moulds. With that said, PC'd bullet moulds are much simpler to produce than conventional cast bullet moulds so they're definitely on the list.
Very interesting. Hope things work out.
Me too :)
How about 3D printing production units of your wad cutter with minimal bits of metal inserts for the actual cutting? I personally use OpenSCAD for my 3D design work.
Personally I don't think PLA or ABS 3D printed parts would hold up to the stress of punching material.
Mount the 3D printed die upside down under the press. That way all the force will be directed back into the press.
I wonder if there's a large gunsmith or aftermarket manufacturer that would sub you some CNC time?
Not so far.
I've published my 3D printed model of the cutting die body here:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:3054657
I'd really like to see someone make buckshot molds with sprue plates. Spending hours cutting each one really causes the hands to flare up. I've often wondered why no one does.
My original design actually included a double sprue plate (top and bottom) but it would have roughly doubled the cost of the mould. My goal is to make the most usable tool possible but it has to be at a price people can actually afford to and will willingly pay unfortunately.
Maybe you could offer sprue plates as an option.
As I'd be contracting these out, it would almost definitely have to be one or the other. To produce less than 25 would cost nearly $200/each... They really only become feasible with you hit 50-100 identical units.
That makes perfect sense. The economy of scale.
Do you plan to offer a variety of sizes?
A little off topic for the video, but I would suggest 3 changes to your mold: 1 move the cavities to tangent with the mold survace. 2) Order 2 lee sprue cutter plate assemblies, or make one from blank stainless steel stock to match your # of cavities. I think their cammed handles are perfect. 3) countersink the mounting screws so as not to interfere with the sprue plates.
Here's my thinking. For most buckshot molds, I think the time /yield is terrible. Not only do most people get incomplete fill out , so most pours don't really get the full number, but the time spent trimming sprues and having irregular shot is a huge waste. If the sprue cutter is aproximately tangent to the sphere, you have miimal sprues. Your casting time would go up by the time required to open and close the sprue cutters, but I think your cavites would fill consistently, and you would eliminate the trimming operation. That time would add up fast.
Alternate to #2. Make two sprue plates, with a stop pin so that they slam "home". put the pivot pins and stop pins such that you have over hang of the sprue plate similar to Arsenal molds, etc. AND make sure that one swat of your gloved hand pushes both sprue plates to the same direction. As in- not rotationally symmetrical. This would give you a simpler hand motion, and probably more speed.
Hi GunFun ZS; I had actually originally designed it in almost the exact fashion you're describing, complete with flush-mounted sprue plate, but it sent the cost per unit through the roof. My goal is to be able to price these very competitively. With the 'deluxe' design I originally started out with, it would have cost well over $120USD per mould which is just too much for a lot of people.
My originally design had a top and bottom mounted plate that were connected at the ends with a shared hinge pin. I'd still love to do it that way bu so far it's been cost-prohibitive.
That's really cool 👍
Thanks, Timmy. Or should I say "Emperor".
Awesome very nice job I’m glad that the new punch is working better and that mold looks great 👍
Thanks very much; the mould needs a bit more work to get the alignment pins and pour holes right, but it won't take me long. The new punch design worked better than I'd hoped so I'm very pleased with it.
Now that's impressive, TATV Canada! Are you going to contract with a machine shop to mill these parts out and go into production?
That's the plan; the challenge last Fall was to locate a manufacturer willing to take on small scale production runs (100 units).
Have you found one?
I contacted about two dozen shops back in Fall of last year, only one would even consider the volume I'm interested in and they wanted an absurd amount per unit. I found two manufacturers overseas who were reasonable around the same time, one turned around and tripled their price quote, the other sounds plausible. I'm just really disappointed I can't seem to find a reasonably priced shop in North America.
Mind blowing seeing that in action. Kids these days have all the fun toys!
If only the 3D printers that use metal didn't cost $50,000, ha ha.
Ahh, just a drop in the bucket! LOL!