More Solidworks renders:

[sil80]

Not that I would ever have any of these parts made (except for maybe the front grip) I started reverse engineering my CETME and changing it to my liking. I'm one of those people who thinks they have great ideas and needs to at least draw them out to be satisfied [shrugs]. In any event, in these screen shots are the rough draft of the upper and lower reciever as well as my front grip. I incorperated the magazine well in with the lower reciever because to me it makes more sense and makes for a better looking firearm. I figure it would let you get in there and clean your rifle a whole lot better. My idea is for the receiver to be a composite of like a polymer and aluminum, so thats why I didn't go with the stamped metal look. In any event, Its not very productive but it makes me feel productive so here are the screen shots:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r192/cjdeion/assem001.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r192/cjdeion/assem002.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r192/cjdeion/assem003.jpg

And I threw in a picture of the actual "spec" reciever I have been working on:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r192/cjdeion/recshot01.jpg

Obviously they all need a ton of work, but its a fun hobby.

[okie shooter]

Hobby, heck they actually will pay you for doing them, just not as much fun when you have to do it, and not for fun.

Did you draw that as sheetmetal, the receiver body, so the software can do the sheetmetal cutouts and such.

[sil80]

I didn't specify with the software that it was sheetmetal. I've still got a lot to learn with solidworks. And yeah, its not the same when your hobby is your job haha. I mean, i'd love to do this kind of stuff, but to get a degree in engineering would not work with me. I just have a different style of learning [shrugs]

[roland3]

any chance you could email me a copy of the reciever file? im thinking of trying to edm wire the inside of a reciever out and machine the outside someday. the cad file would take care of the machine work on the outside and the wire work for the inside looks pretty simple.

[okie shooter]

Sil80, there is a sheetmetal package/toolbar, that when you specify you are working with sheetmetal it will figgure your flat sheet size when you are done, you specify some prameters of the material and it figgures your bends and such. I dont do much with it, just have had the class on it, it was a day class, along with weldements.

If you become proficant with the software, there are plenty of jobs, and when you figgure out one 3d package you useally can pick up on working with others. I work with solid works and autocad for work day in and day out. Work with drawing software kicks all sorts of doors for job interviews and oppertunties.

[LCPL 4]

I worked for a Fab shop about 10 years ago. We used Solid Edge. Main thing is you had to start from the beginning as a sheet metal file. Probably the same for Solid Works. Was nice though. After 3d work was done just a few clicks and you had the flats in front of you. I still use it from time to time. It also did assemblies. You could take your 3d parts and place them together to look for interference, etc.