CNC AR-15 Lower CAD / CAM 

thank you

Tormach PCNC 1100... Are you trying to decide between the 1100 and 700?

#fabian I sped up portions of the video to hopefully make it less boring in parts. The beginning is playing at a normal rate. Watch the section of the video from 3:28 - 4:28 the video is playing at a normal speed and I am pushing the limits of what the Tormach can do. If you watch the video from 2:12 and listen to the motor as it turns the corner to machine the Y axis that little bit extra material causes the machine to bog down quite a bit, so I would say that feed rate is about max for the machine, end mill, etc. Note that section of the video is sped up but I am machining at the same rate as 3:28 - 4:28. I am just trying to point out that what you see in 3:28 - 4:28 is really close to max rates.. About the pump- Yeah I removed Tormach's pump, coolant tank and the flexible cheap knock off Loc-Line. If you look in the aquarium section of ebay for Loc-Line you should see the stuff I'm using. I replaced the pump with a Becket outdoor pond pump (Beckett 7107910 Pond Waterfall Pump 600gph). A 27 gallon storage container was used for the reservoir if you have a Costco nearby they might have them for $6-7. They are black with a bright yellow lid and very rigid. Make sure what ever you end up using has very rigid sides otherwise it will bow out when full of liquid and the lid wont fit properly. Hope this helps.

That was a hunk of aluminum bar stock I bought from our local scrap yard... If I remember right I paid $70 for a bar that yielded enough for three blanks after cleaning and squaring. There was a 0.5 inch deep cut mark I needed to work around that was already in the material.

The 770 'x' and 'y' travel is too small for this job imo... 1100 workarea: 18” x 9.5” x 16.25” - - 770 workarea: 14” x 7.5” x 13.25” Honestly, I bitch about the travels that I have now, so I really can't imagine going smaller. Rigidity.. I could see rigidity being problem -even more so than it is with the 1100.

@@oohookoo you definetly not recommend the 770 m or mx for this job

check out CNC guns he's got free gun files

My advice would be to find the patent blueprint drawings and model it yourself in Fusion 360 or whatever software you have. Going from a simple drawing to finished part off the machine will force you to think about every aspect of the process and make a decision (right or wrong) in order to progress forward. This process is invaluable.

I don't know why I'm just now seeing this comment.. So how did it go?

@@oohookoo lol you kept me in suspense there! My biggest problem was the magwell and the angled holes. Need more fixtures to do those reliably. I also used a 4th axis which I think is the way to go. Unfortunately the whole project is massively expensive compared to large scale production. Hard to justify without offering unique customization. Are you planning on doing more AR receiver videos?

@@devinmorton1846 4th axis is cheating lol Your absolutely right about it being an expensive project and 'unique' is the key to anything close to compensation. Are you talking about that long drilling operation on the bolt catch? Btw I'm so glad you actually attempted this. I am thinking it might be fun to expand on this video what do you think? any suggestions?

@@oohookoo absolutely a great idea! I'd love to see an updated video with how you did it in a vise. Yes, the deep bolt catch hole is tricky but the angled/threaded hole for the grip screw, and the buffer detent hole are tricky to drill as well. I'm considering making a 4th axis jig to spin the receiver so I could do both these holes on one setup. But again... time and effort. Yes if you have time I would absolutely love to see how you finished the backside and positioned the receiver for these awkward holes... thanks!

Okay I gotcha.. yes those holes are tricky let me see if I can't shoot some video over the holiday.

One of these days I'm going to get a much more indepth video posted of the complete process. Until then do what I did and model it in Fusion working from the publicly available design patent.

#Mark LoL so am I. Right now I am working on a soft jaw that should work, but I haven't had time to machine it yet. I got the idea from 'Machining the AR15 Lower Receiver Forging' by Ray Brandes and if you haven't already you should check it out theres alot of good info in it. Heres the link www.lecreg.com/P4x4/ARblank.pdf

can you add a direct link to the video?

Everything except the barrel can be made on a 3 axis milling machine. It doesn't matter if it's a CNC or manual Bridgeport style knee mill. That being said I haven't personally made an AR upper on this one but I have made plenty of other shit.. It really just comes down to fixturing and tooling or 'how your going to hold it' and 'how your going to cut it'. M16's were first made in the 1960's so only 60's tech is required here. It would be a fun little project and you would defiantly learn a lot in the process. If you get stuck just ask. Keep in mind what's possible and what's profitable are two different things.

I designed a fixture to hold it in the vise

@@oohookoo why didn't you show us in the video it would be cool

@@lalmuanpuiijahau7531 It wasn't in this video because I didn't have it figured out yet (when it was filmed). I will try to film another part 2 for all the people who are curious.

@@oohookooyes, it should be filming again 👍

One question what's that cnc machine name?

Just for a second =)

What do you need help with?

@@oohookoo 3D CAD file/ design for my lower.

Have you already started and need help or ground up? lWhat's a good email for you?