Today reader Ian McKee, whose blog handle is 45Bravo, begins telling us about Black Arts Design, a 3D printing operation that sells products to Pyramyd AIR, among others. This will be a sort of follow-on to Ian’s Additive Manufacturing report.
If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, Ian
Black Arts Design: Part One
by Ian McKee
Additive Manufacturing – Part 1
This report covers:
- Black Arts Design
- No compromise in quality
- Accountability
- How things are made
- Keeping things close to home
- Summary
Today we are going to look at one of the vendors that provides airgun parts and accessories to Pyramyd AIR for us — the airgunners of the world. I will give you a little background of the company and in subsequent reports go into more detail about some of the products they produce. We will even peek into how some of those products are made.
Black Arts Design
David Bleakley started 3D printing in 2017 and used it as a prototyping medium for composite materials. Before starting his company Black Arts Design, he was a composites technician in the aerospace industry.
No compromise in quality
Many of his parts are made with FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing. He does everything possible in-house in order to maintain absolute control of the quality and tolerances. If something is out of spec he can identify and correct it. And if there is ever a problem, he can back trace to where it originated.
Accountability
All of his products are printed, assembled, and inspected for quality control by his hands only. He takes great pride and care in every part he makes and sells.
In his own words, “If a customer is spending their money on my products, I owe it to them to provide the best I can. This is why my slogan is ‘There’s no such thing as good enough’.”
‘It isn’t meant to be a catchphrase. My slogan is there to hold me accountable for doing the best I’m capable of and to never settle for good enough.’
How things are made
He uses a Carbon Fiber Filled PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol) for rigid parts like barrel bands, magazine closures, grip adapters and scope side wheels. The combination of the PETG and carbon fiber greatly increases the strength of the material, while keeping it lightweight. The rubberized parts that are used in some of the accessories are printed with TPU (ThermoPlastic Polyurethane).
When he started printing commercially, he tested over 40 different filaments before settling on the type and brand he found to be the best for the job at hand. Every material he uses in his shop, 3D print filament, adhesives, and the carbon fiber used in his new tri-rail adapter must have a TDS (technical data sheet) provided by the manufacturer.
A TDS signifies the material has been sent out for standardized testing by a 3rd party and allows him to contrast and compare mechanical properties. It also helps to ensure consistency of the material from batch to batch.
The filament he uses is not cheap, it is quite expensive compared to other brands. But unlike many other carbon-filled filaments he knows how much carbon fiber is in the material and even the length of the fibers and the mechanical properties of the material.
This barrel band is one of many Black Arts products for the Air Venturi line of airguns.
From its flexural modulus (a material’s stiffness and resistance to bending) to its glass transition temperatures (a reversible change in the state of an amorphous material from a hard, brittle “glassy” state to a more flexible, rubbery state as the temperature increases).
Note: (I had to look up the definitions of those terms to include them here.) [BB’s note: I checked too and he got them right.]
He tested 6 different adhesives for use with the magnetic closures before settling on the final one. The parts being bonded, the magnets and the 3D printed items are treated using the same processes used in aerospace assemblies.
Proper bond prep, solvent clean, abrade, solvent clean again, and bond. All his work is done with gloved hands. It isn’t complex but it takes time. This level of effort is why he has never had a magnet come out of one of his parts. The part would have to be broken apart to remove the magnets.
Keeping things close to home
The machined metal parts that he sells are machined in the USA from 6061-T6 aluminum. He works hard to do as much business with companies in his home town of Tucson AZ. That allows him to work closely with the machinist and anodizing company to maintain better quality control during the manufacturing process.
A 52mm tri-rail made from actual carbon fiber and aluminum, complete with M-lok slots.
Black Arts Design also makes parallax adjustment wheels that fit several different scopes. Also an extensive line of other accessories including grip adapters, barrel bands, gauge protectors for Air Venturi, RAW and other popular brands of air rifles.
One of the parallax adjustment side wheels.
Summary
David is very passionate about what he does, and brings the same level of thoroughness, and dedication to precision of the parts and accessories for the airgun community.
In a future report we will delve deeper into some of the individual products he produces.
Shoot safe, have FUN!
Ian
Ian,
Thanks for this report. It sure has opened my eyes to the changes in the 3D printing field that was once just a hobby is becoming a commercially viable method of production capable of producing parts with the strength for rigorous day to day use not just as ornaments. Who could have predicted that it would be feasible to mix carbon fiber into the PETG to be used as a printing filament?
Siraniko
Siraniko, not quite as impressive, but how about 3D sand printing casting molds and cores for aerospace use?
OhioPlinker,
I’ve read about aerospace companies printing engines (sintered metal laser welded) but those are used in rarefied atmospheric circles. This one has more down to earth uses. Puns intended.
Siraniko
If we’d have more space in our new building, the owner of our company would have rented space to a company printing rocket motors. So we could learn and start doing metal printing as well as sand.
Ian,
Very informative! Thank you.
Does he have a website?
-Y
Yogi
He sure does.
The name of the company.
https://blackartsdesign.com/
Ian,
I thank you and David for this. While employed with Gala Industries, certain of us were able to go to VPI and learn of their research into 3D printing. This was several years ago and there have been quite a few advancements in this genre since that time, mostly in materials. I am indeed looking forward to the possibilities that are presenting themselves with this technology and what you are learning and sharing with us.
You are welcome.
The 3D printing industry is growing exponentially, in both the hobby sector and and the industrial area.
Many suppressors per now being 3D printed from titanium.
Rocket engine bells are being 3D printed and many other components not even dreamed could be produced this way.
It’s a fast moving technology.
Ian.
Fast indeed. One this old, fat, baldheaded geezer is not likely going to keep up with.
Heartening to see someone so committed to quality and just doing the right thing right, the first time around. Right here in the USA! Some of our manufacturers could take a page – or two – from Mr. Bleakley and “inject” a little more quality/reliability into their products. Who knows, people might even buy more of them.
Goes without saying, you also need customers that are not easily seduced by the “oh, but it’s cheap – when it breaks, just toss it get another” pseudo-philosophy.
All,
Before I retired, I used to work with commercial FDM printers. The motto for many doing 3D printing seems to be “if I can draw it, I can build it.” Amazing and durable designs can be built, depending on the material used combined with the skill of the designer.
A showcase that can be seen online is called “The Cool Parts Show” and it showcases videos of designs and materials at the cutting edge of the industry. (Check it out, you might be impressed.)
Bill
Thank you Ian for another inspiring report. In my last job, before retiring, some of my colleagues used 3D printers to make prototypes and validate their designs before going to the machine shops. Some were multi-part and quite complex. Another property of additive manufacturing is that it allows making parts that are difficult, if not impossible, to machine with conventional method, like a honeycomb filled ‘solid’ part. Besides, this technology keeps advancing – who knows what we will be able to do in five or ten years!
Henry
45Bravo,
Another informative Guest Blog!
I hope with advancement in Bio printing we get a Trigger Finger and an Artillery Hold Hand developed that can shoot a Spring Piston airgun with no variation for improved groups.
I hope at least 30-40% of the predictions for the future of 3D printing come to pass; that would have a major impact on human development.
Best wishes for David Bleakley and his Black Arts Design company’s continued success.
shootski
A device that grips the stock when held and allows the rifle to recoil when held tight. A palm held shock absorber for springers. Just a thought. Who needs a box, stay outside.
The more custom stuff the better.
As usual, Ian,, another interesting and well written blog. I hope that BlackArts Design ( he knows the acronym is BAD, right?) continues and prospers. that might be a needed example what was once calls “American ingenuity”.
On another note about 3D printing, that butthead that killed the CEO used a 3D printed 9mm and silencer. Another example of ingenuity gone bad. I know little about this technology, and wonder how the pressures involved in firing one of these “ghost guns” is contained.
Ed
Ed, not to give traction to a political subject.
But the term “ghost gun” is something used to instill fear in people. Like “assault rifle”.
Americans have a long history of building their own guns. If you have the skill set.
Many may not.
At the federal level, it is legal for you to build your own firearm for your own lawful purposes.(some states and municipalities have enacted their own restrictive laws).
The 3D printed part is the frame of the pistol printed from polymer, not much different than a factory made polymer framed handgun. The frame just holds the trigger components and magazine and the rails the slide moves on in place to form a functioning machine.
The steel parts that actually contain the pressure of the cartridges are commercially made aftermarket or OEM parts purchased legally over the counter.
You can legally buy all of the components to assemble it, and whether you have the skills to machine the frame from steel or aluminum, whittle it from wood, or 3D print it from plastic. It still can serve the same purpose.
The machine itself is not evil, it is just a machine, a tool.
The evil is in the person..
Ian.
Thanks Ian, I wondered about the pressures being too much for the polymers used in most 3D printers that are meant for the hobbyist. And I was unaware, as I think most are, that it is legal to build your own firearms other than black powder ones.
I suppose I should have made the connection easily enough as I have built my own flintlock and didn’t have to fill out any federal forms,, so why not something firing smokeless powder cartridges.
I used the term ghost gun simply because that was what was being said on the television news. I used quotation marks as my way of indicating it was just that,, a quotation from another source.
Many in this country are uneasy about the relative ease of obtaining handguns and anything “assaulty looking”. That uneasiness increases when something like that murder, or the recent school shooting by a 13 year old occur.
I admit to a bit of unease myself. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep the unbalanced among us from having access? But until we develop a method of mind reading, that won’t be happening.
As disturbing as these instances are, I am still not willing to follow the flock mentality. We have a great many laws regulating our obtaining and use of firearms now. I believe that they are more than sufficient.
I have no idea of what can be done about the tragedies like those recent ones. But I do know that more laws won’t do it.
Again, thank you for answering my question and for reminding me of what I should have already known.
Ed
Hahaha! we are aware of the acronym the business name forms. But, we will let the community decide if we are worthy of the BAD reference. For those who were not in the 80’s BAD means good:)
Dude!!
Thanks for this report. I love BlackArts creativity in some of those accessories. Bump guard for a gauge? I am jealous about the idea.
I know they can do amazing things with 3D printing, and I have a few pet replacement parts I would like to develop. But I don’t know how steep is the learning curve to develop a part in the modeling software, and then to select good materials…. Are there any 3D custom shops who would work in developing a short run of parts?
There are small shops online, a Google search may bring a list with some close to you.
Online there is a company called PCBWAY, you can model your parts (if you have the skills) once you have the dimensions correct, you can send them the files and they will machine or print it.
The cost depends on the parts.
But they are out there.
Ian.
Off topic:
BB I saw in an old post today your invitation for a Dec 25th for readers to submit their wish list gun. That sounds like a fun idea to update, considering the changes since the last time….
And also, IIRC, in one of your blogs you named the most accurate pellet repeating pistol you have found… but I can’t seem to narrow down a search for it. Maybe a lead-up blog to the 25th might be a summary review from this amazing blog, such as Under $100: Most Accurate, Most Fun Plinker, Most Realistic Trainer, and maybe some other $brackets.
Truly appreciate the guest blogs…. I have a couple of ideas to write up for you… where is that round tuit?
Tom and Ian,
It is humbling to see our business highlighted on the Pyramyd Air blog. Truly an honor and I thank you both for the detailed outline of who we are and what we do. We hope to continue to expand our product line with some novel uses of 3D printing alongside other materials and manufacturing methods.
Thanks again gentlemen.
David Bleakley
black Arts Design