Expressions of interest

My step son is at uni in AK and has been working for a company that does electron beam additive manufacturing (titanium 3D printing). They make parts for aerospace, F1, medical (body) parts and Americas cup boats.
Thinking that sounded kind of interesting I sent him a T3 bolt shroud, which he scanned and then made some changes to, and this is the result.
Attachment 83501
Attachment 83502
Attachment 83503
The texture is interesting (and can be changed but I kind of like this, being a bit different) and I don't have a confirmed price yet. It may change with the numbers produced.
I was wondering if anyone would be interested in buying one if I got a couple done and what sort of money people would pay for one.
Also if there are any other parts that people think would be likely candidates for this sort of treatment let me know.

Bottom metal/plastic

a trigger guard/frame for my mossberg 500...

Maybe I should have left the last sentence off the OP.

So many applications, how awesome, the list could get quite large and the bill lol

AR15 lower. :D

It moved your bolt handle to the wrong side, I'd ask for your money back!

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Originally Posted by Cigar

It moved your bolt handle to the wrong side, I'd ask for your money back!

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But on the same line, bolt handles for us lefties? No idea if this would work or not

Savage bottom metal..

The list will be almost endless. parts runs for BSA's might be an option and tikka bolts with the amount of quiries on forums.

Be aware that electron beam/laser 3D printed metal is not as strong as normal machined metal of the same grade. With some metals the 3D printed item is only rated at about 50% of the strength of conventional machined metal. Something like a bolt shroud or trigger guard is OK because they are not pressure-bearing items. It is usually much cheaper and stronger to have parts made by conventional machining from bar stock. One-off items are much cheaper to make on ordinary mills, lathes, etc. than would be the case for CNC machining. A good tradesman with a properly dimensioned freehand sketch could make some parts on conventional machines in less time than it takes for the CAD drawings and tool setting to be done for the CNC machine. Using a 3D printer to make PLA patterns for investment casting would be preferable for many items (a process I use myself for some tricky items).

Fishing Jigs that work on Snapper ;)

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Originally Posted by Munsey

Fishing Jigs that work on Snapper ;)

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Already have some of those @Munsey. It's the fisherman that doesn't work.:(

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Originally Posted by gundoc

Be aware that electron beam/laser 3D printed metal is not as strong as normal machined metal of the same grade. With some metals the 3D printed item is only rated at about 50% of the strength of conventional machined metal. Something like a bolt shroud or trigger guard is OK because they are not pressure-bearing items. It is usually much cheaper and stronger to have parts made by conventional machining from bar stock. One-off items are much cheaper to make on ordinary mills, lathes, etc. than would be the case for CNC machining. A good tradesman with a properly dimensioned freehand sketch could make some parts on conventional machines in less time than it takes for the CAD drawings and tool setting to be done for the CNC machine. Using a 3D printer to make PLA patterns for investment casting would be preferable for many items (a process I use myself for some tricky items).

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I think this depends on the process. They use varying degrees of current for different applications and claim twice the strength and half the weight of machined stainless steel. Should be strong enough for most firearms applications especially small complicated parts.
This is a 1cm cube with 0.4mm thick structure.
Attachment 83518

Would be intresting to see the metalurgical report on the stuff.

Attachment 83519
Doesn't mean anything to me but it may to you?

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Originally Posted by Shearer

I think this depends on the process. They use varying degrees of current for different applications and claim twice the strength and half the weight of machined stainless steel. Should be strong enough for most firearms applications especially small complicated parts.
This is a 1cm cube with 0.4mm thick structure.
Attachment 83518

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Titanium in itself is not as strong or tough as (many grades of) steel, and 3D printed even less so with greater chances of voids or imperfections etc in the metal.
Where titanium shines is its strength to weight ratio, but in the grand scheme of things its not very strong.
You could get any grade of titanium, and you could find a steel that could easily cut it or machine it.
You could not do the opposite with titanium.

Ok. Thanks @ChrisW. I am no expert and am only going off the information I have from the company who makes this stuff. As they make parts for the aerospace industry and F1, I suspect it should be ok to use to make a Tikka T3 bolt shroud though?

Yes certainly ok for a bolt shroud (and many other parts). Anything that doesn't handle pressure, i.e bolt, barrel or receiver should be fine.

Aren't those Oceania Defence suppressors 3D printed? Certainly a bit of pressure going on in one of those.