Paper a cartridge Templates

[USMA65]

I saw something the other day that I do not understand. A friend came over and said that the school in which he teaches has a new 3-D printer machine. So? I thought. Then he gave me a whistle made out of composite material. I asked what the connection was, and he stated that the machine made the whistle. Y'all may and probably do understand this technology, but I do not....I am delightfully behind the times!
I got to thinking that it would be a small task for this machine to make templates for paper cartridges. The material would be hard, stable and able to withstand cutting with a sharp blade around the edges into the underlying paper. Layers of paper could be used. Yes, I realize that a simple piece of metal would accomplish the same task. But you have to admit, it would be kind of cool to have a template with both .36 and .44 cal patterns side by side in a stiff, reusable material. I bet old Sam Colt would even approve.

 

[Pete44ru]

:surrender: :surrender: :grin:

IMO, it's easier to trace the patterns onto some sheet aluminum & cut them out for use as a non-perishable template.

 

[USMA65]

From what my friend said, all he did was push a few buttons with the measurements desired, and presto....a whistle. I agree that using metal is easy, but this 3-D method would even allow for a post to press the template down onto the paper. Sounds as if I am designing this thing in my head as we post. And I don't even understand the fool thing!!!

 

[ZUG]

I guess if you are going to mass produce the paper cartridges the 3-D idea would be OK but really how many paper cartridges are you going to be shooting? If you have to buy the printer to print a templet to cut 100 or 200 paper cartridges then what's the point? I'd rather spend my time and money on something else -- but that's just me :v .

 

[Canute Rex]

Stack a few sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" printer paper.

Fold them in half lengthwise. Cut along the fold.

Stack up these two stacks of strips.

Fold this stack in the middle at a 45 degree angle to make an L with even legs.

Cut along the fold and stack again.

Roll cartridges from the short square end and leave the end with the pointed tail overhanging the end of your rolling tube for twisting.

Use a hollow tube so you can push the twist down in and it will lock.

This makes a nice stiff cartridge that holds together well and tears cleanly.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Kind of a waste of 3-D printing technology to make a flat 2-D template.

I made a plywood template for my musket cartridges and lay it on 20 sheets or so (old onionskin typing paper) and use a utility knife.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I just buy a used book at the Library, with good quality paper, with pages of a width that will work for the length of my cartridges, and a length that will give me 4 - 4½ wraps around the dowel that I'm using for a particular cartridge. Then I remove the page, and cut it in two with a angled cut / to form the cartridge paper blank. So one page is 2 cartridge papers. I can remove a bunch of pages at one time and cut them, so make several dozen blanks in no time. Then start rolling.

LD

 

[KingofDerby]

If you have to buy the printer to print a templet to cut 100 or 200 paper cartridges then what's the point?

yeh, currently 3d printing is at the stage where, for most people, it's not worth having one. But...

If you said to someone in the 50 years ago that you could use a computer to send someone your nan's recipe for peach cobbler, they'd say
"If you have to buy the computer for thousands of dollars, just to send a letter which can be sent with an 8 cent stamp, then what's the point?"

But now, the computer has become smaller, cheaper and more readily available. It's many different little uses add up to being enough to be worth having.


And that's how it's likely to be with the 3D printer. It's already become small and cheap enough that if I really wanted to, I'm sure I could find someone within a couple of miles of me who'll print something. (perhaps my old work place, or the makerspace at the museum)


Perhaps the original post is 10 years too early... If this was posted in 2027, the replies would look more like this:

Here's a scan of the aluminium ones I made...
44caltemplate.vrml
36caltemplate.vrml

Thanks for that Pete44ru. Got my neighbour to print it for me. Looks good, but really needs a handle so you can press it down.

In other words, there will come a time when posting printable items on a forum like this will seem as normal as posting a picture.

 

[RAEDWALD]

Thats the trick Dave. I buy unsaleable pre 1850 books for my musket cartridges. All rag paper as they did not use wood pulp then. Last purchase was a fat dictionary for €1,50.

1840s paper for an 1840s musket.