Engineer

If you haven't seen it, it's a game changer-- shows how to design and print a super durable frame.

I'm in the planning stages for a new pistol build a want to make sure I'm squared away legally, which in my area means getting it serialized.

I've already found a local FFL who is willing to do the laser engraving for me, which is great. However, their one condition is that I bring them the completed frame with a suitable metal plate already permanently embedded in the polymer. They'll handle the engraving to the required depth, but I need to figure out the best way to prep the frame for them.

This is where I could use the community's experience. For those of you who have added serialization plates to your prints, I'm looking for solutions:

What are you using for the plates? Are people just using blank stainless steel dog tags? Or are you sourcing small pre-cut plates of a specific thickness or material (like aluminum or steel) from somewhere?

How are you permanently embedding them? I assume the most common method is modeling a recessed pocket into the file before printing and then using an adhesive.

Hey everyone,

I'm looking into adapting the Plastikinov v4 from 5.45x39 to 5.56 NATO. Good news: apparently the mag lockup is identical between calibers, so only the follower needs modification.

According to people familiar with the design, it "shouldn't be too hard looking at cartridge specs" to adapt the files.

What I need to research:

• Follower geometry differences between 5.45x39 and 5.56 NATO magazines
• Taper differences: 5.56 is straighter than 5.45x39
• Barrel/bolt specs: What changes beyond the obvious bore diameter?
• Trunnion and bolt carrier might be identical between calibers
• Commercial 5.56 AK mags to test-fit geometry (Galil, M85, SLR-106)

Has anyone here done work converting AK receiver files between these calibers? Any gotchas I should know about beyond the follower and barrel?

Alternative: Should I just buy a ZPAP M85 and call it a day?

Thanks!

Anyone else interested in a FPV community to share files and things of that nature?

Hey all,

Good to see this place is live. It's cool to have a fresh spot from the ground up.

As we all start posting here and getting a feel for the place, just a thought: let's not pull up the ladder behind us. The "normie" sites like reddit etc are still the best way new people who are 3d2a.

You'll get some downvotes and screeches from the usual suspects. But you're not posting for them. You're posting for the lurkers the person who is genuinely curious and just needs to see a door to walk through. That's probably how most of us got here in the first place.

Just something to keep in mind as we get this place off the ground.