Need a trigger guard made, can't find a machine shop willing to play along.

Dark Alley Dan

Dark Alley Dan

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Hey, folks.

I bought one of those stubby little Scorpio .22 rifles. Don't care for the Star Wars stock, so picked up a proper walnut one out of the states at a startling price. No trigger guard came with it.

Thankfully, one of our smarter members here (Thanks, Turbo_bird!) designed one for 3D printing.

I had a Facebook guy crank me a cheap plastic one to sort out fit - it's pretty close - and now want to have someone who does CAM cut me one in either aluminum or steel. I've done some checking around, and anyone who isn't super-comfortable and experienced with the current laws around firearms is scared to run one off for me.

Anyone here know of a shop that could generate an aluminum or steel trigger guard from an .stl file?
 
A one-off custom part is gonna be super expensive. The conversion to g-code, tooling setup, work holding etc and several test runs to get it right will make the cost of one part simply eye watering.

My bet is none of those machine shops want to do the job and are just using the excuse that it's a gun part to get rid of you. 🤷‍♂️

I've never met any CNC machinist who works from STL files. Most of them want STEP files.
 
When I told him I needed to replace the trigger guard on a powerful air rifle, the local gunsmith here offered to fit one from a selection of parts from scrapped rifles; I'm still thinking about it. If you have a smith that's been around for a while, that might be an option.
 
165$ an hour shop time and 100$ an hour design time.

The guns what? 300 bucks?

15 minutes to drag a peice of stock off the rack, saw it and put it away......adds up fast. If they stock the material they mark it up 30-40 percent.

Ball nose carbide end mill for profiling, 60-80 bucks.

Most machinist are gun guys, theyre doing you a favor turning you away.

I get walk-ins all the time that will devour 10-20 minutes talking about making a part they think costs 50 bucks. 90% of the time I can steer them towards an off the shelf part.

Want to be taken seriously? Tell them it's a boat/motorcycle/oil and gas part. Your looking to get 50 made but are willing to pay for a one off to try, change the file name to "bracket"

After you use up 30 minutes of their time to do a quote, and decide the guns ot worth it, at least you'll learn something.

Go to a gunsmith and see what he has in his parts drawer.
 
Dark Alley Dan said:
Hey, folks.

I bought one of those stubby little Scorpio .22 rifles. Don't care for the Star Wars stock, so picked up a proper walnut one out of the states at a startling price. No trigger guard came with it.

Thankfully, one of our smarter members here (Thanks, Turbo_bird!) designed one for 3D printing.

I had a Facebook guy crank me a cheap plastic one to sort out fit - it's pretty close - and now want to have someone who does CAM cut me one in either aluminum or steel. I've done some checking around, and anyone who isn't super-comfortable and experienced with the current laws around firearms is scared to run one off for me.

Anyone here know of a shop that could generate an aluminum or steel trigger guard from an .stl file?
Click to expand...
Don’t call it anything related to a gun trigger guard. Just ask if they can make this part and show them the model or picture. Down here in Calgary there are several guys who advertise hobby machinist services. Mostly retired dudes working out of their garage or small shop. I’m about to do the same with woodworking services that most people don’t have the machinery to perform.
 
Ask your favourite AI robot how to convert whatever you have in file format to whatever you need. You’ll have an executive level summary in about five seconds and you can decide if it’s worth it, but it will be easier than you think.
 
While I could give it a go on my little Taig, for a trigger guard why don't you have it 3d printed out of metal? Much simpler and cheaper for a one off and strong enough. There are Canadian suppliers now, but places like Shapeways don't pay attention to what the part is for and you can get a quote in seconds from their site. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the number ;)

I Dont Care About You said:
A one-off custom part is gonna be super expensive. The conversion to g-code, tooling setup, work holding etc and several test runs to get it right will make the cost of one part simply eye watering.

My bet is none of those machine shops want to do the job and are just using the excuse that it's a gun part to get rid of you. 🤷‍♂️

I've never met any CNC machinist who works from STL files. Most of them want STEP files.
Click to expand...

You are pretty close in your analysis I think...

Though Fusion won't really care what it starts with STL or STP to generate the g-code. That choice is just for convenience and in part historical...
 
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remington jim said:
Try Paul at PR Precison 👍
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I've bought some parts from this gentleman.
True quality.

Pricey, but a great Canadian shop.

A one off part like this will cost hundreds in setup and run time.

Unless you're Scrooge McDuck rich a nicely finished printed one might be the way to go.
 
Dark Alley Dan said:
Hey, folks.

I bought one of those stubby little Scorpio .22 rifles. Don't care for the Star Wars stock, so picked up a proper walnut one out of the states at a startling price. No trigger guard came with it.

Thankfully, one of our smarter members here (Thanks, Turbo_bird!) designed one for 3D printing.

I had a Facebook guy crank me a cheap plastic one to sort out fit - it's pretty close - and now want to have someone who does CAM cut me one in either aluminum or steel. I've done some checking around, and anyone who isn't super-comfortable and experienced with the current laws around firearms is scared to run one off for me.

Anyone here know of a shop that could generate an aluminum or steel trigger guard from an .stl file?
Click to expand...
Don’t tell them it’s a trigger guard
 
300-600$ for a custom cut job minimum if you go to a machine shop.
You can probably buy a aluminum block and drill and cut one yourself at home for much cheaper, all be it not as pretty or easy.

Just have the 3d print guy make you a few more out of carbon reinforced filament or polycarbonate. IF his machine can do it, offer to buy a roll in exchange for the work, the roll alone will cost you 40-50$ and could print 5-7 of em with lots of filament left over for him to use for himself. As far as strength goes, it will be extremely close, if not stronger than most polymer stocks or handguns you can purchase.

I had some scope levers made and so far they've lasted longer that the vortex branded throw levers. :LOL:
 
I was watching a video on 3d printing a while back and they were talking about some filament that wasn't metal, it sounded like ceramic when it was tapped one hard surface. Apparently it was quite strong and very heat resistant. There are many materials availllable for 3d printing.beyond what the basic printers can print with.
 
Dark Alley Dan said:
Anyone here know of a shop that could generate an aluminum or steel trigger guard from an .stl file?
Click to expand...
I'll second using an online 3D printing service like Shapeways. Aluminum isn't crazy expensive to print (it will be far cheaper than any one-off CNC version) and you can upload the file to their website for a free quote before you order.

Depending on your goals, you may find a printed trigger guard in one of the higher strength fibre reinforced plastics will do what you want. You can get fibreglass or carbon fibre reinforced nylon, PETG-CF and some others. Both of these are pretty bombproof as plastics go and look pretty good as well. It won't be blued metal, but it will be strong and functional.


Mark
 
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