I'm helping "the kid" with a new venture. He's making about 50 M2
tripods. http://tinyurl.com/3d4gmef

I get to CNC machine a few (well several) parts and will keep five
tripods out of the deal. I just made the first prototype run
yesterday. I'll set up the CNC lathe for production over the next
couple days. Same thing with the CNC mill.

Anyway, this unit needs half a dozen odd ball springs. Is there a
better source than McMaster Carr out there?

Karl

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:26:21 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:

I'm helping "the kid" with a new venture. He's making about 50 M2
tripods. http://tinyurl.com/3d4gmef

I get to CNC machine a few (well several) parts and will keep five
tripods out of the deal. I just made the first prototype run
yesterday. I'll set up the CNC lathe for production over the next
couple days. Same thing with the CNC mill.

Cool. Are you doing the brass swivel bushing and the T&E mechanisms?


Anyway, this unit needs half a dozen odd ball springs. Is there a
better source than McMaster Carr out there?

Have you tried any of the larger spring makers, like
http://www.leespring.com/ or http://www.centuryspring.com/ ?

--
....in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin

On 10/16/2011 6:26 AM, Karl Townsend wrote:

Anyway, this unit needs half a dozen odd ball springs. Is there a
better source than McMaster Carr out there?


Vlier is one of the big names in spring pins and ball plungers:
http://www.vlier.com/product_index/sld/bp_00_index.html
Appears they might sell direct, they at least have an RFQ form.

Looks like you can also request modifications to stock items, probably a
good chance they can cover your needs.


Jon

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:48:45 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:26:21 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:

I'm helping "the kid" with a new venture. He's making about 50 M2
tripods. http://tinyurl.com/3d4gmef

I get to CNC machine a few (well several) parts and will keep five
tripods out of the deal. I just made the first prototype run
yesterday. I'll set up the CNC lathe for production over the next
couple days. Same thing with the CNC mill.

Cool. Are you doing the brass swivel bushing and the T&E mechanisms?


Anyway, this unit needs half a dozen odd ball springs. Is there a
better source than McMaster Carr out there?

Have you tried any of the larger spring makers, like
http://www.leespring.com/ or http://www.centuryspring.com/ ?


First, a typo, we're making an M3 tripod. At least the first few are
using a steel bushing. The idea is to keep price low. I bought a T &
E. It wouldn't be hard to make, maybe make a bunch later.

Our next project will be an MK93 shock mount
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/...cts/blmk93.htm

Karl

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:35:31 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:48:45 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:26:21 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:

I'm helping "the kid" with a new venture. He's making about 50 M2
tripods. http://tinyurl.com/3d4gmef

I get to CNC machine a few (well several) parts and will keep five
tripods out of the deal. I just made the first prototype run
yesterday. I'll set up the CNC lathe for production over the next
couple days. Same thing with the CNC mill.

Cool. Are you doing the brass swivel bushing and the T&E mechanisms?

Anyway, this unit needs half a dozen odd ball springs. Is there a
better source than McMaster Carr out there?

Have you tried any of the larger spring makers, like
http://www.leespring.com/ or http://www.centuryspring.com/ ?


First, a typo, we're making an M3 tripod. At least the first few are
using a steel bushing. The idea is to keep price low.

A search for "M3 tripod" brings a $1200 item.
http://www.keepshooting.com/m3-tripo...-complete.html

The original "m2 tripod" search gave me a sub-$300 item.
http://www.keepshooting.com/m2-tripod-for-1919a4.html

I think you can beat the M3 price pretty easily.


I bought a T & E. It wouldn't be hard to make, maybe make a bunch later.

Offer 'em up front for an extra fee, as KeepShooting does?


Our next project will be an MK93 shock mount
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/...cts/blmk93.htm

Where'd they come up with -that- price, anyway?

Got ammo? vbg

--
....in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:35:31 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:

Our next project will be an MK93 shock mount
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/...cts/blmk93.htm
Karl

Oh hell yes. Be sure to make a bolt down pintle mount for the box of
your Toyota pick-up (Toyota pick-ups seem to be the brand choice of
warlords everywhere) so you can have your very own Somalia style
"technical". Maybe get some Sub-Saharan Africa looking gangsta sun
glasses and one of those hajib doo-rags wrapped around your face to
complete the look. Then, when the revolution heats up, you can drive
around and blast holes in building walls until your city looks just
like downtown Mogadishu.

And who wouldn't want to live in Mogadishu?
Dave

On Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:43:22 -0400, lid wrote:

On Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:35:31 -0500, Karl Townsend
wrote:

Our next project will be an MK93 shock mount
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/...cts/blmk93.htm
Karl

Oh hell yes. Be sure to make a bolt down pintle mount for the box of
your Toyota pick-up (Toyota pick-ups seem to be the brand choice of
warlords everywhere) so you can have your very own Somalia style
"technical". Maybe get some Sub-Saharan Africa looking gangsta sun
glasses and one of those hajib doo-rags wrapped around your face to
complete the look. Then, when the revolution heats up, you can drive
around and blast holes in building walls until your city looks just
like downtown Mogadishu.

And who wouldn't want to live in Mogadishu?
Dave

Na, look at it the other way. If things turn into Mogadishu, it would
be good to be needed by the folks driving those toyotas around.

Karl