3D Print Tactical Flashlight Mount for Airsoft Pistol

Intro: 3D Print Tactical Flashlight Mount for Airsoft Pistol

I have a H&K U.S.P .45 replica airsoft gun. In all honesty it is good but it can't compete with any airsoft rifle or shotguns. It needs all the help it can get and when the going gets dark a flashlight is just what you need. A quick google search or some T.V watching will lewt you know that every cop has a flashlight mounted under the barrel of his/her trusty sidearm.This is an easy part to design and to learn new software, plus it''s under 3 inches so you can use it for a free instructables print. You could buy this part online, but it would probably be more expensive, If you could even find it. 
Will upload pics of finished part when I get it. 

STEP 1: Materials

You will need:
An airsoft gun (as a reference for sizing) 
A micrometer or ruler, depends how precise you want to be. 
3D Design software. I used Autodesk Inventor  (free student version) but there are free alternatives like Google sketch up or Blender. 
Access to a 3D printer (or free instructables print) or cnc if you can. 
 A flashlight also for sizing reference. 
4 bolts and nuts (small)

STEP 2: Measure Gun and Flashlight

Measure gun and flashlight. Record these measurements on a piece of paper or on the computer. Or you could skip to the next step and measure the parts as you're drawing, depends on how you want to do it.  Make sure the micrometer is set to mm and zeroed. 

STEP 3: Draw Base of Gun

Open a new .ipt file in Inventor, and make a new 2d scetch on the y or z axis. Draw the shape of the underbarrel mounting rig. Draw half of it and then mirror it (much easier). Then extrude it to the length that it is on the gun.  

STEP 4: Draw Part

Draw the shape of the part and then delete the underbarrel notches. You may have to change the length of the extrude after depending on hoe long you want the mount to be. 

STEP 5: Add Bolt Holes

Make a hole for the bolts to go through. There are 4 holes in total. Measure in from the side about 15mm then make a hole about 6mm in diameter, this will change depending on the size of you're bolts. 

STEP 6: New Assembly

Make a new assembly (.iam) file and place two of the mount pieces into it then save copy as a .stl and email it to [e-mail]  (if your claiming a 3d print that you won from instructables) or a online printing site like (shapeways).  Wait, wait and then assemble the pieces once they arrive. 

Comments

[AjKing]

Are you using inventor?

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Yes

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Yes

[Josehf Murchison]

Do you know what 42 means.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

The answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything. Do you know what the question is?

[Josehf Murchison]

Yes I do.
The question is.
What is the meaning of life?
And the answer 42 is the alphanumerical sum of, “To Be”.
T is 20, 0 is 15, B is 2, and E is 5.

I like your mount.
it looks realy good.
Joe

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Thanks, Ill post pics when it gets here. Do you like it enough to vote for it?

[Josehf Murchison]

All ready did dude.
Have you thought about doing the same thing with a lazer pointer?
Joe

[LaserDave]

That sounds like a really cool idea actually. By the way, LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulation Emission of Radiation. As such, the "Z" is incorrect.

Just saying.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

No, I don't have one at least not one powerful enough to do anything. So I don't know what the dimensions are. Same process probably, if the lazer pointer is cylindrical. Thanks for the vote

[sjzurek]

I wish it works well for you. It's great idea and with a bit of Autodesk engineering you can make a lot more out of it. I wanted to do a laser pointer for my gun, but I'm stuck with proper aim calibration. I think I'll go with 3 bolts and hemisphere way.

I am trying to add image where I think the holes should be. Just for the record :)

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

That would probably be better, but it's too late for me to change. Vary interested to see how you're laser pointer idea works. Please post a pic, (virtual or real).

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

I don't know that you will be able to calibrate the aim, my experience is that the BB's curve all over after the first few shots (and some of the co2 is gone)

[sjzurek]

I believe you will have a problem with 2 top bolts that are actually going THROUGH pistol accessory rail. You will have to bore two holes in your pistol to get it on. I hope you've spotted it before sending to print shop.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

I don't think so, the holes are just bellow the rail. I think I left enough room. We'll see in a few months when it arrives.

[amandaghassaei]

great idea! do you have a link for the flashlight?

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

I saw the same one in The Source (electronics not snowboard) at the front of the store.

[Zaphod Beetlebrox]

Sorry I don't know were I got the flashlight, I've had it for a long time.