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The past few months in DIY Defense have seen more than a dozen new beta projects. Who can watch all the work happening at once? DEFCAD has the report.

Black Cat Aircraft & Manufacturing is known for a wide array of projects and their Universal Pump Action Rifle is fascinating work. Next we find PrintYour2A's take on the Mossberg 500 and Maverick 88 shotgun receivers. These 12ga projects are a perfect fit for anyone interested in practical, self-defense builds (and can get their hands on a parts kit). PY2A has a strong catalog of Glock-related projects and it's great to see this developer move to new platforms.

Finally, the Black Lotus Coalition (via Basic and MadMaxBL) has released their Mr.Fusion project for the G17 and G19 platforms. This frame has a robust yet simple implementation for raised sights and pistol braces, without the excessive part jank endemic with this type of design. Meant to be integrated with a variety of accessories, like magnetic holster lugs or printable suppressors, it's a breath of fresh air to see designs that seek to simplify a common approach that even non-hobbyists might use.

Fresh for the new year, DEFCAD presents the 3D Printing Quick Start Guide . Last year's guide became the most popular beginner guide online, and we'd like to continue bringing people into the work this year. 3D printing may be the most user-friendly and emotionally accessible of manufacturing methods, but there are terms and ideas for which every new and experienced user requires a handy, single reference resource.

Our 2024 guide should be given to friends and family alike and offers everything you need to get started in FDM printing. Download the updated guide here for free!

The Black Lotus Coalition is not the only organization in DIY Defense that DEFCAD highlights. We're also the home of the Gatalog!

The Gatalog is an internatinoal syndicate that fights capitalism by selling commercial parts kits for the AK-47, MP5, MAC 10, AR-15, 1911. I know what you're thinking, but yes, you really can buy communism! Though their license standards are regrettably corporate and closed source, we'll dutifully preserve their work until the Revolution.

This time of year has been wild for suppressors. Void3D has released not one, but two packs of remixes for their classic multi-caliber design. The festive Candy Cane pack and the sleek Triangle remix designs are now live at DEFCAD. Void3D offerings are always available in .300, 7.62, 9mm, .223, .40, and rimfire calibers and represent the widest variety of aesthetics for your spicy muzzle device.

After months of testing and refinement, the FTN.3 Suppressor is finally available! Tested with PLA+ (but recommended for use with filled nylons), the slanted K baffle innovation allows this printable suppressor to be used with supersonic rifle calibers. The heat and blast pressures are also better mitigated by this design choice. Be sure to pick up a copy today and see all the work that has been done by pla.boi.

None other than Forgotten Weapons has long noted the lack of useful texts for the aspiring gun developer, and while DEFCAD has tried to catalogue with this in mind, Ian shows why he's the master by directing us to the excellent Technical Notes on Small Arms Design from the Small Arms Systems Laboratory of the US Army Weapons Command. John Rocha published this text in 1968, and the text shows its age. But the author's approach to explaining the mechanisms of action of small arms while still exploring the design side of things is clear and useful.

There is a significant amount of math in this text, but most of it is well-contextualized with good examples. Sub-component mechanisms are given special attention, and the author helps you keep in mind the various necessary relationships when designing these platforms. If you're looking for an introduction to the design of firearms, or you're trying to find how you would calculate certain forces in your own design, this is a great text to download and get into.

Our friend Hoffman Tactical released a great video last year on the subject of annealing Nylon Prints. Thermoplastics have a variety of limitations, and while the primary considerations are usually around heat or shear strength, Hoffman points out another classic problem regarding creep deformation. The plastic will slowly flow while under light tension due to its elasticity and this can lead to long term deformation. Hoffman proposed a method of annealing.

Watch the full video to see the main discussion and results, but tldr; annealing may reduce creep deformation by a factor of 20!