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Thread: 3-D printing some anti-tilt mag followers

  1. #1
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    3-D printing some anti-tilt mag followers

    I have been wanting to update all my USGI mags, I have 18 total, 4 of which had magpul rebuild kits with the new style anti-tilt followers. One mag is not working at all and has to have a new follower to be fixed. Not being able to find more anywhere I've been thinking about modeling off one I already have and 3D printing some more.

    The 3D printer I have access to (tho I'm pretty sure they're all the same in the medie aspect) uses a type of ABS plastic, I'm not sure the exact composition but the cartridge says "ABS, P400, for dimensional printing". Would this ABS plastic hold up and be suitable followers?

    Of course the mags work as-is with the green followers, I just thought this might be a cool project. I'm just trying to gauge if its even worth it or if the followers are just goin to break apart upon first use.
    I know some people have printed lower receivers, I also watched a show on NatGeo there they printed a big adjustable wrench and actually used it to tighten/loosen a metal bolt. Personally I've only seen the printer I have access to be used for modeling purposes but I'm sure it's all the same technology.

    My other idea/option is to make some followers out of a block of HDPE on my mill, it sure would be easier to just make one CAD model and push print as many times as I need than to stand there and mill them out over and over, my mill is manual, not CNC, the 3D printer is of course fully automated, once I model the follower in the CAD program I can repeatedly print more with minimal work.

    Mods- this seems like an advanced technical AR topic to me but if I've posted it in the wrong forum, or if it would be better somewhere else then I'm sorry

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    There was an article not long ago on 3-D printable magazines, the followers themselves were printed too. The only thing that wasn't was the spring. And the dude who did it said that his mags were working.

    I'd think that the follower itself would be okay to print.
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  3. #3
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    If you're planning on modeling one of the Magpul followers, you might consider retaining the services of an attorney to help defend you from a Magpul lawsuit on patent infringement. Just something to consider when carried away in all of the excitement.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Serial_killer View Post
    One mag is not working at all and has to have a new follower to be fixed.
    Two questions:
    What malfunction is that particular magazine inducing?
    How is a follower change going to correct it?
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave_M View Post
    Two questions:
    What malfunction is that particular magazine inducing?
    How is a follower change going to correct it?
    The follower is broke, it is going to correct the problem via the old follower is in pieces and whatever new one I make won't be.

    As for the other comment about the lawsuits, I wont copy a magpul follower, I'll copy a c-products one, they won't be going after anyone (not to mention magpul never went after c-products and they did do it commercially). But really tho they won't care, I'm not making them to sell, I'm not using the same materials, I'm doing it ONLY for personal use and on top of all that I really doubt they're going to be EXACT replicas, it's not like its a 3-d copy I just put the old one in and a new one comes out, I have to measure and design/model it myself, I'm sure there will be minor differences.

    For the 2 guys who actually contributed thank you.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by 3 AE View Post
    If you're planning on modeling one of the Magpul followers, you might consider retaining the services of an attorney to help defend you from a Magpul lawsuit on patent infringement. Just something to consider when carried away in all of the excitement.
    There's a research exemption in patent law that would likely let him get away with it as long as he's not doing it with the intent to sell commercially or as part of a business.

    An individual just playing around with a 3D printer to see if it could be done seems to satisfy the criteria for the exemption...
    Last edited by nova3930; 02-11-13 at 14:24.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by nova3930 View Post
    There's a research exemption in patent law that would likely let him get away with it as long as he's not doing it with the intent to sell commercially or as part of a business.

    An individual just playing around with a 3D printer to see if it could be done seems to satisfy the criteria for the exemption...
    I see your point and the OP's. Just wondering in the future when 3-D copying will be more precise and the correct material will be used. Picture someone having that capability making dozens for their own personal use and then letting friends do the same. No money changes hands, nothing was sold but someone is losing business. Yep newer technology brings along their own set of issues. Just look at all the counterfeits that are flooding the market that the original manufacturers have to deal with. Now compound that with what the general public can or will be able to replicate in the very near future.

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    I know a guy made some printed magazines, followers, and lowers a while ago. He uploaded all the blueprints online. I'm sure you can Google them. And as long as you don't sell them you're good. Print a few and see how they work.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 3 AE View Post
    I see your point and the OP's. Just wondering in the future when 3-D copying will be more precise and the correct material will be used. Picture someone having that capability making dozens for their own personal use and then letting friends do the same. No money changes hands, nothing was sold but someone is losing business. Yep newer technology brings along their own set of issues. Just look at all the counterfeits that are flooding the market that the original manufacturers have to deal with. Now compound that with what the general public can or will be able to replicate in the very near future.
    If I knew where the tech and IP legal environment were going with respect to rapid prototype/rapid manufacturing, lets just say I wouldn't be going to my day job lol

  10. #10
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    http://defcad.org/ar-15-magazine/

    Don't know it's anti-tilt or not, but that place should lead you to something.

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