Here at DEFCAD we spend most of our attention on the latest printable project file drops, but developers need a significant amount of other data in order to produce those files in the first place. Most of this technical data is found by reverse engineering parts and components into CAD models on a case by case basis. However, with thousands of files there are quite a few that exist purely to serve as references for developers in fashioning their own unique designs. This week has itself been full of uploaders providing these types of files.

Starting off, Jacmnb provides us with an AR-9 Bolt Carrier Group. There are more than a couple AR-9 parts kits on the market, yet what is most important for a 3D2A designer is usually good exterior dimensions so that 3D printed upper receivers can be properly matched. If one's print settings were dialed in enough, it's not inconceivable to even print a fitment prototype of these files.

Following those BCG models, there has been another update to the AR-15 lower receiver by SupremeTrickster coming both in 80% and 100% variants. This design adheres to military specifications (milspec), but its been adjusted for ease of manufacturing by removing some of the more onerous toolpaths and small radii. Obviously this design is not meant for 3D printing due to how little material is provided where the stock and upper receiver connect, but in the current legal environment its great to see people making designs that further cut down on the limits on mass manufacturing and machining these kinds of lowers. We'll note this exact model is even compatible with Ghost Gunner 80% Jigs!

Finally, we wrap things up with SwarmTech's Metric Hardware Card. This project not only offers the ability to physically check certain sizes of hardware, but it also includes skteches with the proper dimensions so that you don't have to go to McMaster-Carr or Traceparts to get your reference models all the time. Having standard hardware is an essential part of a developer's job if they want other folks to actually make or contriute to their projects, and this is a great step in the direction of building fully featured tool boxes to help make such standardization as easy as possible! Feel free to explore DEFCAD's reference section and be on the look out for more of these useful tools for your own future projects and contributions.

This week’s sponsor is Ghost Guns. Providing the best in unserialized parts kits and tools to build your own ghost gun today! The new standard for chassis based pistols was achieved this year by Defense Distributed with the G0̷: A fully 0% Pistol for Gen3 G17/G19. Ghost Guns provides the both the full Build Kit with Grip Module and the necessary tooling in for the Ghost Gunner with the Starter Kit.

DEFCAD hosts all the necessary cutcode for the Ghost Gunner to manufacture the chassis as well as some designs for remixing your grip module. The Future is 0̷.

Last month a cringing Roberts Court blinked under protest and preserved the Biden frame and receiver rule for the life of the first appeal from a final judgment of the Texas district court. That appeal isn't exactly going well for ATF, as you can hear below, but Roberts is still giving the agency the next two years to have their rule.

Listen to the VanDerStok CA5 Oral Arguments.

This month, judge O'Connor strikes back with forty two pages of just why he has the authority to issue an injunction against the frame and receiver rule, as to at least two VanDerStok plaintiffs: Defense Distributed and 80 Percent Arms.

The DOJ will probably appeal, but the Biden administration is now in the worst place they could be: The true believer fanatics in this industry have achieved commercial monopoly. Oops.

In other Biden gun law news, the president’s son will have to argue Bruen to beat his federal case.

In line with this week's focus on reference models, DEFCAD wishes to give a little love to a rarely discussed element of DIY Defense: Spring Manufacture! Firearms rely heavily on regular points of force being constantly applied to certain parts of a design in order for things like triggers, magazines, bolt carrier groups, etc, and springs remain one of the simplest and cheapest options for this purpose. While it is entirely possible to purchase most springs one would need for a gun build, as they are one of the staples of any industrialized economy, there are times when prototyping that making our own springs becomes desirable. And DEFCAD is here for you.

The first pair of items we'll highlight are HW Enterprises' SpringFactory and Armitage's Glock Spring Bending Jig. The former is a series of printed and off-the-shelf components that allows for very fine control over how an operator would process common piano wire. Outside of the wire diameter (which can be adjusted for by modifying the included STEP files) almost any other element you wwould need to bend your own magazine springs is readily configurable. The glock mag spring bending jig does ostensibly the same thing for common glock magazines but its simplicity of print and use is itself commendable.

The AR Style FCG Spring Bending Jig "Shuriken" by Forbel is a much more recent release, but we are confident it will soon become a DEFCAD Classic. With a Ghost Gunner it is entirely feasible to manufacture almost every component of an AR-style fire control group, but its not as easy to make the necessary springs. These projects highlight the possibility of a future where builds like the FGC-9 MKII can be manufactured almost entirely with a 3D printer, ECM setup, and a simple mill to help open up the ability for those who want personal defense in regimes that don't allow any trade of firearm-related components.

Defense Distributed has teased a new release of some kind for September 18th at "midnight." Is that midnight Eastern? Does that mean the morning of September 18th or the morning of the 19th? We wish someone over there would tell us so we could tell you!

While DEFCAD is known for being the best place for both accessing and visualizing the most exciting remixes and speciality exterior designs, it has been a week or so since we've seen a major release. Void3Dprinting comes in to break this streak with his new round of suppressors just in time for fall.

These variants are embossed with a hexagonal cube styling which not only aides in grip but, as you can well see, makes a truly excellent presentation. Per usual, Void makes sure that a wide variety calibers are supported with his designs, which are as follows: 7.62, .300 Blackout, .22 Rimfire, 9MM, .223, and .40. We are always excited to see what Void cooks up and his uploads this week do not disappoint.

DEFCAD has lately been making a concerted effort to distribute classic texts on firearms design. Our past highlights have included materials derived from military research, but now we turn our attention to civilian works. James Virgil Howe, formerly in charge of the small-arms experimental division at the United States Frankford Arsenal, wrote the two volumes of The Modern Gunsmith.

These texts do not focus on the engineering of firearms and their theory of operation, but instead focus upon the intricacies of actually being able to manufacture and modify said firearms. There is an incredible amount of detail present in this writing, articulating not just how to interact with components but how to manufacture and use the tools required to make the same. There is even a section in the second volume about spring manufacture. While there is an insane amount of content spread across hundreds of pages, we see very little fat and generous illustrations. Since it was published in 1941, it remains an essential inspiration for designers looking to refine their experimental projects or to prepare them for commercial manufacture.

Download Volume 1 and Volume 2 today on DEFCAD!

• 09/02/2023 - New Tech 22
• 08/10/2023 - Super Safety
• 08/05/2023 - The Partisan-9
• 07/27/2023 - DEFCAD Signal Launchers
• 07/15/2023 - DEFCAD Quick Start Guide
• 07/06/2023 - DEFCAD Leaderboard
• 06/30/2023 - Bullpup Designs at DEFCAD
• 06/22/2023 - Announcing BANB 2023
• 06/15/2023 - Experiments in Guncad
• 06/09/2023 - Announcing the G0 Family of Pistols
• 06/01/2023 - 3D Belt Fed is Here

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