Got news from the machine shop today.
Newly designed chassis primary housing has been completed.
To start with the housing was made from steel this time around instead of aluminum. Why?
#1. Material is cheaper (but strength is retained)
#2. Material is easier to work with.
#3. Material is easy to source (who know aluminum blocks the size we need them were a pain to find?)
#4. The initial weight of just the chassis is roughly doubled. This will allow us room within the compartment for water cooling mechanisms and not have it filled with the modular weights. This way we can retain our weight goals and get more "play" room inside for other side capabilities.
5. Shape is now more octagon than square - however the oversized dimensions are still in play.
Old Dimensions: 24"L x 5"H x 3"W
New Dimensions: 27"L x 4 1/2"H x 2 1/2"W (Length addition is due to the addition of an integrated muzzle brake)
6. More ventilation ports for both heat and design to break up large "open" and "flat" areas.
7. This design incorporates slits that span various lengths of the rifle. The slits are just wide enough for most (we use Magpul in house) rail screws to go into. This design will allow the use to position a picatinny rail set in virtually any position they want. Its the same concept as front ends with lots and lots of holes, but in my opinion our design takes this idea beyond that because you can set the position EXACTLY where you want them instead of hoping the holes will line up where you want them.
8. Design retains "1 Minute Break Down" capability. Means the entire front end system housing can be added or removed with very basic tools that most people would have on hand.
I feel this is one of the major points of the system. You do not have to sacrifice a rifle to this design. Any rifle that is equipped to accept a free float tube can be equipped with this system. You do not have to be a gunsmith to configure or remove the system.
