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Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

TacHacker – Salt and Pepper Wireless Camera System

Thursday, January 4th, 2024

Black Hills Designs has shared instructions for the Salt and Pepper Wireless Camera System, a DIY project.

Salt and Pepper is a live streaming camera system which can be assembled relatively easily using readily available components and can be mass produced at an affordable price. As of this publication the Salt and Pepper camera unit costs under $25 and the support equipment to control several cameras costs under $50.

The camera system utilizes no existing infrastructure such as cell networks, WiFi, or SATCOM making them ideal for austere conditions and disaster scenarios. It utilizes its own network.

Salt and Pepper is capable of >200m of line of sight and 8 hours of continuous use with recommended battery.

For full instructions, including a video and links to components, visit www.blackhillsdesigns.net/product/salt-and-pepper-wireless-camera-system.

Allyness, Ltd – Wor-Rig Quick Tape Sling

Wednesday, November 8th, 2023

Made in the UK, the Wor-Rig Quick Tape Sling keeps your tape handy for quick repairs. Comes with a roll of waterproof Black PVC tape.

PALS compatible, the tape sling is available in Coyote, Olive Green, and Black.

allyness.com/products/wor-rig-quick-tape-sling

5D Tactical Pistol Jig Pro Set for Launch: World’s First Multi-Platform Jig for 80% Polymer Pistols

Friday, May 26th, 2023

May 25th, 2023 — We are excited to announce the official launch of our latest product, the Pistol Jig Pro. This innovative tool is the world’s first reusable multi-platform jig, specifically created for 80% polymer pistols. Notably, it has been developed and tested rigorously to achieve an industry-first ability to accept frames from multiple manufacturers.

The Pistol Jig Pro is more than a mere tool—it represents our collective freedom. This product embodies our dedication to upholding the Second Amendment. Regardless of the liberties that may be threatened, the Pistol Jig Pro equips you with the ability to build for years to come.

The Pistol Jig Pro truly stands by the promise of “one jig does it all,” offering unparalleled versatility and durability. This innovative platform is designed to work with the leading 80% pistols on the market. Our patent-pending hardened steel drill guides and inserts can be quickly repositioned to change from one platform to another.

Currently, the 5D Pistol Jig Pro is compatible with the following models from Polymer80: PF940v2: Full-Size. PF940C: Compact, PF940SC: Sub-Compact.

Additionally, the Pistol Jig Pro can accommodate these models from 80% Arms: GST-9 MOD1 and GST-9 V1 frames.

Crafted from billet aluminum, the Pistol Jig Pro features durable hardened steel drill bushings, ensuring that it can endure a lifetime of use. This characteristic empowers firearm enthusiasts to create and maintain their crafts over time, regardless of potential challenges that may surface.

The Pistol Jig Pro will be available for order starting this week. As a token of our appreciation for the early supporters of this product, we are pleased to pass on savings by offering an introductory price of $149.99, notably lower than the regular price of $199.99. Orders will ship in June 2023.

For more details about the Pistol Jig Pro, please visit our site at: www.5dtactical.com/products/5d-tactical-pistol-jig-pro-multiplatform

Army Lab Makerspace Program Enables Workforce Innovation

Wednesday, March 29th, 2023

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD – The Makerspace program at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) provides state-of-the-art equipment and technology to enable the workforce to develop mission-related product prototypes and specialty items.

“This is an innovation space. We want people to come in and share their ideas so we can help them do a proof of concept, which can then go on and become a bigger project or a bigger program,” explained Bradley Ruprecht, lead of the Makerspace program.

Innovation is the core of Makerspace. In 2012 and 2019, the Center’s Makerspace program was awarded the Distinguished Innovator Operators (DINO) Award. It is the Additive Manufacturing User Group’s (AMUG) most prestigious honor, recognizing those with the highest levels of experience and expertise in the industry who dedicate a willingness to share their knowledge through contributions to AMUG and its members. Makerspace has earned two of the Army’s three DINO Awards.

Located in the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Rapid Technologies Lab, the Makerspace program has led and supported numerous successful large-scale projects by utilizing the program’s robust equipment with updated technologies and material developments. For example, the program played a major role in enabling the replacement of ion drift tubes in handheld sensors for the Defense Logistics Agency.

The program continues to support such major projects using the products developed in the lab and encourages the CBC community to bring their ideas into the space, where the team can assist in teaching and training on new skills. “Our mission this year is workforce development because we’re training folks on new skills,” Ruprecht said. “Chemists, biologists, engineers – anyone and everyone – are learning new skills like 3D printing and CAD 3D modeling.”

The equipment at the facility enables products to be fully customizable at a low cost, which allows for flexibility during project development and offers a high degree of conformity among custom-developed units. Makerspace aims to own and develop its own processes, materials, and products to support CBC missions. Lessons learned while supporting projects throughout the Center will be an asset for upcoming projects within the Army.

In a recent project, Ruprecht aided in the development of organoids from living cells using the lab’s recently acquired bio-printer. The capability of the bio-printing machine allows it to print living cells, which can then grow and multiply to create an organoid or other bodily structures. The project used tooling to create a custom organ-on-a-chip, where a silicone microchip connects to small fluidic channels with specific organ cells – such as the heart or lungs – to mimic human physiology. The idea of the project is to develop and design the organ on a chip in-house at Makerspace.

In addition to bio-printing, Makerspace provides access to 3D scanning and printing, laser cutting, metal bending, and painting as well as design and engineering services. The materials at the workshop range from liquid resin to stainless steel metal, carbon fiber, nylon, and more. Ruprecht encourages the workforce to visit the facility, where experienced professionals can introduce individuals to the lab and even match them up with programs or engineers to target the particular needs of a project or idea.

Funded by CBC, Makerspace is open for walk-ins and is a freely available resource for the CBC workforce to use. Ruprecht plans to host classes in the Makerspace lab to share his expertise with the community and develop skills within the workforce.

By Aeriel Storey

Fort Bragg’s Airborne Innovation Lab Hosts First Introduction to Microcontrollers Course

Tuesday, March 28th, 2023

Recently, the Airborne Innovation hosted its first Introduction to Microcontrollers Course.

Students were taught the basic background of electronics principles and operations, circuit diagrams, line-by-line code review, circuitry analysis.

This course focused on specifically on the low-cost Arduino microcontroller.

Lessons occurred through lessons and hands-on practical applications, through various challenge projects, culminating in a capstone build.

Other courses include Basic and Advanced Additive Manufacturing.

www.army.mil/82ndAirborne#org-airborne-innovation-lab

Spiritus Systems Presents: Banned State EDC

Tuesday, December 27th, 2022

How do you protect yourself while traveling? Being on the road all of the time, this is an issue I struggle with and it’s only exacerbated while traveling overseas. Even some
of the most innocuous stuff like a first-aid kit and a pen knife can get you hemmed up.

Adam Holroyd of Spiritus Systems breaks down some options.

DIY Julehjerte / Christmas Heart from Tardigrade Tactical

Tuesday, December 6th, 2022

Tardigrade Tactical is offering DIY kits to make the traditional pleated Christmas Heart known in Danish as Julehjerte from Cordura in various colors and camouflage patterns.

They’re available premade as well.

www.tardigradetactical.com/collections/x-mas

Brownells Unveils BRN-4 Build Kits Compatible with HK416 Parts

Monday, November 21st, 2022

GRINNELL, Iowa (November 21, 2022) – Brownells customers can now buy BRN-4 build kits and parts compatible with popular HK416 style rifles and pistols – at a significant savings compared to, rare, hard-to-find factory original kits.

The build kits combine brand new Brownells BRN-4 barrels, bolt carrier groups, gas pistons, gas blocks, barrel nuts and other parts with factory original HK416 handguards and stripped uppers.

Factory-new BRN-4 barrels are available in 10.4”, 14.5” or 16” lengths in either heavy or medium profiles. BRN-4 build kits include the special barrel nut wrench required for installation. 

The stripped uppers in the kits are surplus German-made originals, and part of a one-time lot of parts Brownells was able to source a few years ago. German stripped uppers may show signs of use, are limited in number and will not be replaced once they sell out.

Uppers completed using Brownells BRN-4 kits and parts are fully compatible with both HK416-style and standard AR-15 lowers.

In addition to complete kits, the BRN-4 parts can be purchased individually — ideal for customers who need only a part or two to complete or repair an HK416-style firearm.

To see the full lineup of BRN-4 kits and parts, visit the BRN-4 page at Brownells.