Would it be possible to get a step file ? I want to see if I can hollow it out so i could fill with cement to give it more mass.
Rifle Bench Rest Assembly
This is a fully 3D printed adjustable height bench rest for target shooting. Hot swappable wye to fit your rifle stocks.
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updated February 8, 2025
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@GlennPierce_2428509 Sorry so long getting back with you. If STL files work for you, the STLs are on thingiverse.
Do you have .stl files?
@Cooly1911_261603Cooly1911_261603 stl's are on thingiverse
Thanks for sharing. Nice rifle rest that does what it is designed to do. It fits with a couple of inches to spare on the shooting benches at the range that I use. Based on @ag_1373507 comments, I added 2inches to the screw (4 walls, 15% cubic) that I printed for the rest. Printed with PETG.
After adjusting the height at the range, I started with 10 rounds 556, the rest moving back with the recoil. I then set the rest against the raised back edge of the shooting bench to keep the rest from moving. I shot another 50 rounds 556 then swapped rifles. Shot 30 rounds 38sp then 12 rounds 357mag. The screw failed on the recoil of the 12th round.
Looking at the picture of the failure, it occurred at the point that the hole for the wye shaft begins which coincidentally(not on purpose) was at the top of the locknut. The only support against lateral shear for the shaft hole in this area is the print infill. Above this point, the wye shaft supports the hole. Had this joint been lower within the body of the rifle rest, the screw probably would not fail at this joint.
I printed a taller locknut to support the joint above the top of the rest and 2 more tall screws at 4 walls and 25% honeycomb infill. Perhaps the simplest solution would be increased infill in the area of the joint. Life permitting, I'll get back to the range within the next few weeks to try the mods. (edited)
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@SanfordPrime_562474
I sent a total 102 rounds downrange before the screw broke. I printed two more screws with honeycomb infill-didn't think about gyroid at the time.
I did have the sling under the rifle where the rifle sat on the wye and my left hand gripped the handguard/forearm behind the wye but not touching the wye. The rifles did not slide on the wye and the rest took some of the recoil but I don't know how much. The sling mounts were not in contact with the wye.
When I get back to the range, I am going to set the rest up with joint in the same position as the last trip and with slings between the rifle and the wye. The intent is to try to break the screw with the honey comb infill. I'll post the results here when I get them.
Cheers!
@Trekking_927764 Spare parts are good to have, especially when away from the 3D printer. Hoping the raised locknut works in your situation to avoid needing to print any more screws. Anxiously waiting for results. Thank you for taking the time to provide this valuable feedback!
@tabsche_2431824 Looks great! Love it. Yeah, it is a bit large to fit in the shooting bag, but most of the store bought ones are too. Enjoy it! Thank you for sharing.
This model looks great. I have just one question before printing it. What is the max height from the table and top of the rest?
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@SanfordPrime_562474 That would be a bit on the low side for my current setup, but I could scale model up a bit and if the will not be enough I can still put a block of wood underneath. Thank you for information.
@ag_1373507 no prob, how high are you trying to get to?
@SwiftyAC_374156 Hey no problem, I needed one too. Trying to stay away from saying it looks like something stolen out of a McDonalds here... but it does look like it came out great and I hope it works well for your shooting. Thank you for sharing and Nice Job!
@KaPuLi Your welcome, Looks like it turned out great! Thank you for sharing it!
Sanford's rifle rest with a remixed 'Y' to fit my 2 rifles with room for the 'felt' self stick pads - printed well, total for all parts about 12 hours on the Mk4. Great design! (edited)
@DaveinTXK_1463626 Thank you so much. Looks great! Please enjoy it!
This is a great model, thank you! Currently printing......
Curious as to what the 150 and 175 stand for on the wye-for-rifle part? Measuring the opening, they are about 37 and 46 mm respectively and about 65mm tall from the bottom to the bottom of the 'U' - I cannot find a 150mm dimension on them. I'll remix this part to fit the 2 rifles I have plus some self stick felt pads - something to try before a possible permanent solution to padding. (edited)
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@DaveinTXK_1463626 To this day I haven't printed with TPU on my Ender 3. I thought that a direct drive extruder was necessary. But, then again I did print TPU with the work printer, its an Ultimaker S5, and that doesn't have direct drive either and the prints come out just fine. Well, guess I'm buying some TPU for home then to give it a try as well, I think it'll make this rifle rest better.
@SanfordPrime_562474 let me know how it goes, I’ll do the same!
Rifle Bench Rest printed on an Ender 3v2 using PLA+
The bolts for the feet should be printed with high infill, or they can shear when tightened. It seems like a very solid design. (edited)
@DavidB_1753572 Thank you for posting your make, its awesome! I hope it comes in handy. I pretty much left the feet screws finger tight on mine, just to take the rattle out. I have no idea how much torque they'll actually take whether infilled or solid, but it does sound like a neat project endeavor, comparing different materials with different infills charting the torques... but it sounds like an endless project too, LOL I'm rambling now...
For the feet, some people have printed them from TPU which sounds like a great idea to me for multiple reasons. I'm wondering if less torque is needed to hold them securely, maybe the TPU will squeeze like a locking nut preventing the screw from loosening with less torque applied?
Nice & clean print! Thank you for sharing!
Though kinda somewhat experienced in 3d printing, well, more of a novice... I do not recognize the *.3MF file type. How does this differ from the *.stl ?
Thanks!
@SirUlrich_1276455 It's "3D Manufacturing Format" I guess it's just what I've always used... There is an STL available from Thingiverse if you're interested. I think the 3MF's are a little more capable of storing part info in the file, that's all. I use Solidworks to export from native and have just simply had less issues with 3MF files, so that's what I like to use, just more of a preference thing for me I guess.
Ultimaker Cura is what I use for slicing and the 3MF's drop in nicely (as well as other formats).
Printed using Anycubic Black PETG on an Ender 3 V2 using a .4 nozzle, .2 layers, 30% gyroid infill. Turned out great, looking forward to practicing marksmanship in our backyard with our .177 pellet rifle. If all goes well, possibly testing it out at the range eventually with .223/.308. Was thinking about adhering a strip of rubber to the yoke, possibly also to the bottoms of the feet. Thanks for the design!
PS briefly hit a snag printing the feet with supports, they just did not want to release from the threads. Retried w/o supports, printed perfectly!
@memitimBlack_2125129 I remember printing threads with supports once. It was on my monitor stand. I didn't give it a thought really that it had threads when I added the supports, If I remember right though they twisted right out.
Rubber would probably be ideal for the yoke to not scratch the stock of the rifle. There was another make of it where TPU was used for the yoke and feet, also a great idea! Keep in mind the clearance between the stock and the yoke to make sure you have enough clearance to install.
Thank You for sharing, your assembly looks pretty sweet!