Tokyo Marui 5.1 HiCapa 3D-Printed Carbine Kit Build (Part 2)
by Joker Tool Works
Disclaimer: This is NOT a kit for a real firearm! Don't do that! It's illegal and dangerous!
0.1) Introduction
Last time, we modeled the kit, and started
printing the minor components. After printing a few mockups, a lot of the parts weren't quite to spec, so a ground-up redesign began. Over the course of nearly a year, the design of the kit is "finished". Let's talk about what's changed, and experiments that took place in between.
An image of the V1 kit. Note that the safety and slide release don't
have much space, and the walls of the receiver piece are very thin.
1) An Experiment
The first of an experimental prototype for improving the kit.
In this test, I made two different variations of the carbine kit. This, the first version, "prototype V0.1," was meant to retain the stock solution and charging handle from the previous model, but was built more carefully around the slide and frame dimensions. This kit printed with some success, but was underwhelming (as it was only meant to "actually work").
This kit is currently available publically to download for free here. Bear in mind that its replacement will soon be uploaded.
The second of the experimental prototype line.
This version of the kit, "Prototype V0.2" kept the same stock solution and general dimensions of V0.1, but added a raised portion on top to facilitate a top-charging handle. While this functioned great, the changes it necessitated for the aesthetic were horrible, and I decided against using this design.
Luckily, after posting the V0.1 to Thingiverse, I received a lot of useful feedback - things such as splitting the receiver into multiple pieces, printing rails directly to the receiver, and ergonomic considerations were mentioned. All of these thoughts have, in one way or another, gone into the official V2 of the carbine kit.
2) Improvements
Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado...
Hi-Capa 5.1 Carbine Kit V2.0, available for free soon.
Version 2.0 of the carbine kit incorporates a bulked-out receiver with better grip detail on the spare magazine holder, an enhanced semi-retained charging handle design, and uses an AR buffer tube and stock rather than the two-bar system of the previous design. The "forward" receiver is divided into five main parts - upper, lower, front, mag grip, and action camera mount. These parts are all readily printable on a 22cm-class 3D printer, making the kit accessible to pretty much anyone with a modern printer, as was the intention. If the action camera is not desired, the resulting hole can be filled with a square peg, which will also be available in the final kit files. With these changes, the kit can reliably be printed out of simple PLA or PLA+ without worry of the kit destroying itself easily.
The only remaining part of this kit that needs to be addressed is the angle of the grip plate. The receiver and grip plate will both have to be printed for me to verify that they're lined up properly, however; if they are, then this kit is absolutely ready for public release.
A preliminary printing of the new dimensions of the forward receiver has proven very promising. Pictures will be up in part 3.
