First and most important is the VG1-5 project. I received a call this afternoon late that the firing pins can be picked up from the heat treating firm. With this last piece we can send the second rifle to [...]]]> Not a big post for today, just an update on the projects we are working on.

First and most important is the VG1-5 project. I received a call this afternoon late that the firing pins can be picked up from the heat treating firm. With this last piece we can send the second rifle to the ATFE for final testing. The second item on the VG project is that all the receiver flats are in the spot welding room and as soon as we modify the spot welders they will be on the line to finish. That will be this week.

The drawings for the MP-44 trunnions are solid modeled and material is ordered so we can finish that project.

The Japanese type 96 and 99 magazines have taken a step back. The first two stamping dies did not work as planed and we needed to send the magazines back. They are still on the drawing board as I need them for my own guns.

The AR-16 is still being solid modeled. We are getting closer but still more time is needed to finish this project. I only work on it when I have spare time and we know how that goes.

A member of our family here at Gun Lab located me an isolation transformer and with that I hope to get the wire edm powered up.

We have been doing a reverse engineering project on a German WW2 machine gun which is coming along nicely and I hope to have drawings in the near future and a solid model shortly after that. This project has been a real ball buster, but with the use of the schools cmm we are getting close now.

I am currently work on a few write ups for the site. Part 2 of the Winchester self loaders should be dome this week, a friend , O.H., is sending me some interesting photo’s and scan’s on a few weapons to post and the third installment on the Bushmaster pistol is in final editing.

This should answer all the questions that have shown up in my in basket. If there are any other question please feel free to drop me a line.

I do need help with a project though. I need manuals for the wire EDM. I am concerned that the batteries have died in the controller and I am going to have to reset the parameters. This machine came with no manuals at all. Here are a few pictures of the panels and model numbers.

Xerox copies are fine. I just need to learn about the parameters and set up of this machine. Thanks everyone for helping.

With nothing else going on I am going to hit the rack, tomorrow is another fun filled day for me.

Another angle

The bottom portion of the die

Top and bottom side by side

Assembled [...]]]> We have finished the second op die for the Japanese 99 magazine right side. The die is complete and the springs and pins added. This is a photo  run down of the final die. This is the complete die assembly

Another angle

The bottom portion of the die

Top and bottom side by side

Assembled die from the bottom end

Assembled die from the feed lip view

Chatting about the different components

Pointing out the feed lip area.

We are just drawing up the rest of the first stamping die then it is off to stamping.

First will be the really bad and that [...]]]> Once again time has gotten away from me. We are in the shop 7 days a week working on the projects and stuff actually gets accomplished. The updates this week will show the good and the bad that we have had in the last couple of weeks.

First will be the really bad and that is stamping the Japanese type 99 magazine. Our biggest mistake was trying to accomplish to much with a single die. It did not work. Instead of pressing the sheet metal it sheared it instead.

So this lead to redesigning the dies and the process that we are going to use. We have gone to a multiply step process. The first set of dies will just stamp the groves, the second set will bend the sides and the third will set the angle and do the base plate edge. this is a picture of the new first set of dies.

I hope to be back at the press with the new dies this week.

Now a completed project that was fun and interesting. We had a UZi that was brought in for repair. It is a dealer sample converted weapon that would just not work. The first thing we needed to do was machine out the bolt to fit properly.

However with this type of boring bar the chatter and movement was just to great. We changed to a stiffer bar and all was good.

With the bolt problem corrected we still had problems. It would fire one time and then run away. The problem was the excessive movement of the pistol grip. The original grip is set for an 8mm pin and the converted weapon uses a 9mm pin. Once we open the hole in the grip and installed a new proper size pin everything worked like a dream.

We are also working on the VG1-5. A great deal of work was accomplished on the upper receiver. The first 5 which are the test rifles are just about completed. we set up the fixture to all us to cut the majority of the upper receiver.

This allowed us to machine the bottom hole and the slot for the guide slot.

All the guide slots have already been machined.

This how they fit on the receiver.

The cocking handle holes have been drilled.

The rear sight dove tail slots have been cut.In addition to this we also finished the FG-42 butt plate stamping die and started stamping them. That will be the next post and I have to get back into the shop and get to work.

If the flats come in this week I hope to be pressing them this weekend.

As with the male die it starts out as a large block of steel.

With this die we made it in three parts. This allowed us to machine areas that would be very [...]]]> Now that the male die is complete, with only de-burring left to do, it is time to start on the female dies.

As with the male die it starts out as a large block of steel.

With this die we made it in three parts. This allowed us to machine areas that would be very completed.

At this point you will notice the alignment pin holes between the upper and lower dies.

After the lower die is completed a backing plate was made and then ground to hold the completed die together.

This is the completed die attached to the plate.

With this step completed we will be drilling the holes for attachment to the die plate. That will be this weekend. I will post about that when completed.

Here are a [...]]]> Well more work has been completed on the solid model of the type 99 magazine. We have now finished both side with feed lips and bottom plate rib. Soon the follower and lower spring plate will be completed. When all the parts are completed it will be off to the 3-D printer.

Here are a few more solid models to check out.

We have now completed the entire magazine. So this is the rest of the solid models.

First the exploded views.

Now for some individual parts.

and a picture of this part.

and a picture of the follower

Here is a drawing of the magazine as well.

This is it for now. Next will be the machined plastic model.

As a side not. If anyone has a rusted/dented unrepairable magazine they want to donate to the cause it will be used to test the final bit of information that we need. Please feel free to contact me.