M60 Machine Gun Prop 3D printable 1:1

[TazMan2000]

Starting a new project. The M60 which has been in countless movies...but I think I first noticed it when I saw First Blood in the theater. There are little useful blueprints online, so I am mostly working from photos. I intend to make the variants like the M60D, M60E3, M60E4 and M60E6. Apparently there is supposed to be some accurate blueprints out there, but Google isn't finding them.
The foregrip and metal heat shield seemed like formidable challenges about a year ago, but I think I can manage them now. I just hope my software can handle it.

TazMan2000

 

[joberg]

I'm sure you can do it Taz

 

[TazMan2000]

I'm sure you can do it Taz

Oh, I can do it. Just not sure about the software. It's bogging down with so much information. Its not a memory issue, since I have plenty of that.
The heat shield turned out to be easier than I thought, but I had a lot of trouble with the booleans and filleting.

TazMan2000

 

[TazMan2000]

I'm designing this prop so that it can disassemble like the real one, although screws will mostly hold the parts together, rather than latches.

TazMan2000

 

[joberg]

Looking sharp

 

[septic]

I've an Inokatsu M60 [original / VN version] & a nearby buddy of mine has a real steel M60, if you need help with specific measurements.

 

[TazMan2000]

I've an Inokatsu M60 [original / VN version] & a nearby buddy of mine has a real steel M60, if you need help with specific measurements.

That's very generous of you to offer. I'll send you a PM with pictures. As of right now, I'm working off of photos, and an overall length of the weapon from Wikipedia and other sources that say the M60 is 1105mm long. So when I work with a base measurement, even if it's wrong, I have to go with that, and then every subsequent part that you make would reference that initial measurement. One could end up with a Frankenstein design afterwards and I've done so in the past. Also when making something that's 3D printable, obviously PLA doesn't have the strength of metal, so accommodations have to be made to accuracy.

TazMan2000

 

[TazMan2000]

Some doohickeys still to make and work on refining the front bipod.

TazMan2000

 

[joberg]

I don't know how you do it Taz

 

[TazMan2000]

I tweaked the dimensions of the barrel a bit thanks to help from septic . There are several dimensions and tapers to that barrel due to the components mounted on it, such as the front sight and gas tube. Most of my evening was spend trying to get the bipod hub designed. Slots, and springs in the hub mechanism will allow the bipod legs to latch upwards and downwards. But for the ease of simplicity, the height of the bipod legs will not be adjustable, since that will involve machining catch marks on a stainless steel rod.

TazMan2000

 

[septic]

Very happy to help.
Looking real nice! That foregrip looks like it would have been a pig [ ] to model!?

 

[TazMan2000]

Very happy to help.
Looking real nice! That foregrip looks like it would have been a pig [ ] to model!?

Yeah, it was a pig to model, and thanks to your new measurements, it's going to be a pig to re-model.

TazMan2000

 

[TazMan2000]

I've designed the barrel locking mechanism for the M60 trunnion. Some modifications will have to be done. The cap on the end, is designed to tension a compression spring to keep the barrel latch mechanism rotated down to secure the barrel. Hopefully it works as designed when I print it out.

TazMan2000

 

[George]

I know this machinegun from the Novalogic Delta Force games. Powerfull and loud. Sometimes mounted on a zodiac.
Awesome project, Taz. Here's wishing you good luck

 

[TazMan2000]

I know this machinegun from the Novalogic Delta Force games. Powerfull and loud. Sometimes mounted on a zodiac.
Awesome project, Taz. Here's wishing you good luck

Thanks George
According to imfdb.org the M60 has been in over 90 movies, several TV shows and a whole slew of video games.

TazMan2000

 

[joberg]

The barrel locking mechanism is a beauty Taz; I spent a good ten minutes looking at it and trying to figure the perspective out.

 

[TazMan2000]

The barrel locking mechanism is a beauty Taz; I spent a good ten minutes looking at it and trying to figure the perspective out.

I'll post the thing in solid mode once I make more significant progress.

TazMan2000

 

[TazMan2000]

Today, most of my time was spent correcting mistakes in size of the components. When you make changes to one component it's going to affect others so it's an ongoing game. The feed cover was challenging, both in trying to find good pictures to go from and trying to recreate its curves. Once I did that my software couldn't work out the geometry to hollow it out, but I managed to create a workaround.

The real one(s) pictured below.

TazMan2000

 

[TazMan2000]

Resized and re-edited some parts. Trigger mechanism, sling attachments, feed cover hinge...

TazMan2000

 

[Zombie Killer]

I have the receiver and rail blueprints at home rolled up along with the M79 receiver that i had printed out many years ago. I use to have an 80% receiver many years back but sold it. Probably have the Army Tech manual too. I can give you any measurements off the blueprints.. Not sure how easy to make copies though as they are big, like 2-3 ft big. Now that i think about it i probably have the files i printed them from . Its been 20 years. Ill check when i get home.