Creator: Hearts and Minds

Grenade Strike Lever Sheet Metal

This is a sheet metal body conversion of a Grenade Strike Lever commonly found in Stubb's projects. Includes a flat pattern in the fusion file and drawings that both callout necessary bends and offers a 1:1 cut out if you want to make one by hand. This is purely reverse engineered via stubb's STEP so my recommendation is to use this project as a template and instead attempt to emulate actual grenade striker levers for an easier time in design and fabrication (Notably the 0.40" thickness is not an actual sheet metal gauge).

While most DIY Defense CAD Projects are 3D Printed or Reference Models sometimes sheet metal fabrication is the proper answer to certain design objectives. This normally happens in one off jig kits (see: rail kits) but it is an underappreciated technique especially for those that aren't afraid of a handsaw or a ghost gunner if you really know what you are doing with CAM.

I'd like to continue refining sheet metal experiments (jigs are next) so this project will just be one of many. Looking forward to the projects y'all start playing with.

DISCOVERIES:

- While I used a .step from a stubbs grenade as my base its a good idea to play with solid bodies before trying to make the sheet metal. Often they won't properly convert but you can use it as a template. This will also teach you what is possible.

- The Flange Tool is GOD. Make all adjustments and decisions based on what the flange tool will allow. Experiment with the Loft function of the Flange tool frequently. The flange tool is what enables flat pattern which vastly simplifies fabrication concern.

- The flange tool has an insane amount of features within it if you click "Override Bends." Spend alot of time exploring this place

- Deterime your material and guage of sheet metal from the outset. You set your thickness at the very start with the 'convert to sheet metal' feature

- Consistently check 'flat pattern' to make sure it works. Had to reverse alot of progress because features weren't mirroring correctly. Also make considerations on how someone could actually make this part so make affordances for radii for drill holes in tight cornerss and all that.

- When dealing with complex manipulations of sheet metal shapes the mirror tool is worse than useless. Be sure to go about any mirrored features manually.

- I dig stubbs but after looking at reference Grenade Strike Levers from IRL grenades its very clear those were designed with sheet metal in mind and would be much simpler to work with.