3D Printers and Bowhunting The fun never ends

We added an additional 3D printer (the term most folks understand) for archery and bowhunting related prototyping. (and for generally playing around)





As well as a variety of ridged and flexible filament to proto design concepts.





Right away my Father put it to use prototyping a broadhead he wants to make for an upcoming bear hunt.








Every bowhunter with an idea needs access to digital manufacturing.

 

We are playing around with the 3D printer making prototypes of things we have been wanting to make or improve upon.

First up is our vision of an improved version of an existing product to replace fletching. FOB's are a good product. We had ideas to try to make them better. Not necessarily for sale but for our use, education and enjoyment. We made our ring a bit smaller but the fins a bit bigger.



But ours weights slightly less than the FOB



clearance from a drop away (and our ace a full draw) will be a bit better with our version.



They have a 4 degree offset and we went with 7. FOB's fins are flat. We made ours with a curve or radius like an airplane wing to see if that will improve flight. (Again, experimenting)



We will make a few more and test shoot them.

 

Next up is a friction call. We printed the pot. One in black and another in Black and red and we designed in some text just for giggles.




We made aluminum sound boards





Aluminum and cooper





and a sliding top for the striker to change the tone.








Just waiting for the epoxy to cure to test them for sound.

 

What type of printer do you use? I quickly looked on Amazon and they range from $350 to $1000 and I'm sure there is some quality difference in the cost.

 

We got another Makerbot Replicator 2. They are no longer made but we found a lightly used one on Flebay.

More and more companies are coming out with machines but watch out. Dremmel and home depot teamed up for a ripoff machine where they are using the tired trick ink jet printer companies use where they sell a cheap printer (in this case $900) and then they force you to overpay (more than twice the going rate for commercial machines) for the plastic filament that the machine is useless without. The make the spool small and hide it in the machine so you have to keep coming back to them for filament. Bad form indeed.

 

Somebody is having too much fun!!!!!!

Keep on "playing" so the rest of us can enjoy the results!

 

Will do Elkguide.

Having the existing FOB product hit your face is a real drawback (especially if you have a beard and/or mustache) Moving the ring and fins forward would be a real improvement. An inch or inch and a half forward would add considerable weight to the wrong end of the arrow (as well as using more plastic which = $$$$.) Also it may conflict with the drop away rate of a rest giving it less time to drop away.

Everything is a balancing act. We think moving the fins and ring a half inch will go a long way in getting it further from the archer's face without adding too much weight and cost. It also allowed for a better design by way of a trailing rearward run-out which should reduce noise (not that there was much noise to begin with.) and allow for additional vane surface area creating more spin.

3 Blazer vanes and glue weighs 20 grains. Our original design was 23 grains. Once we print a few of these in the new format we will get a weight.

[URL="http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/staysharpguide/ring8_zpsb579ckjj.jpg%5b/img"]http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/staysharpguide/ring8_zpsb579ckjj.jpg[/img[/URL]]

[IMG]http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/staysharpguide/ring7_zpsgweg7d4l.jpg

 

Great thinking.

 

A 3D printed shelf with hooks we made for hub style blinds.



Adding some hooks and shrink tube.





To quiet the shelf an old mouse pad and double sided tape was used.





Perfect fit.



Plenty of room on the shelf and to hang things.

 

Nice work !

 

Some thoughts we had about items to make via 3D printing

3D printed bow side plates
Sights or sight parts
Rests or rest parts
Quivers
Camera mounts (phone or GoPro)
Stabilizers (using 3D printed parts and carbon arrows)
Fletching jigs
I think this list grows daily.

 

We hoped to improve upon the aspect of the FOB we didn't care for as well as add things we want.


1. Improved rest clearance.
2. Reduced face contact.
3. Reduced weight. (less than existing FOB and closer to 3 Blazers/glue)
4. Increased spin rate.
5. Increase total surface area of fins.
6. Airfoil fins rather than flat.


By making the annular ring smaller and pushing it forward 3/4", the facial contact issue improves as does rest clearance. We prototyped an early version yesterday but went back to the drawing board today.

 

Back to the drawing board.

Existing FOB's weigh 24.5 grains. Our early prototype of a modified annular airfoil fletch was 23 grains but like everybody else we dislike weight on the rear end of the arrow so we took out weight in no-stress areas and got the weight down to a (calculated) 20 grains (the weight of 3 blazers with glue). We won't know for certain until we make a few and throw them on the scale. Here is what they will look like now.

 

I printed the latest version. I dont know that my scale is sensitive enough to capture the weight reduction. The calculated weight should have had this thing at 20 grains.







Before any more design changes are made test shooting needs to be completed.

But................... Not today.

 

That is genius! The absolute perfect blind companion! The only thing missing is the cup holder for a beer! I want one!!!!!!!

 

Ill take one of those ground blind shelves as well!

 

Good work!

 

Wow!!! this is an awesome thread... Keep up the awesome work.

 

Love the blind shelf.

 

I really like the blind shelf, let us know when they become available.