I was wondering how Ammomike got away with it. I have to say that Rick is one of the most intelligent tinkerers there is. The flipper is just ingenious. The reason the Hornady is so d..mned loud is because the bullet travel from the bottom to the top of that oversized bucket is more than necessary and the inefficiency means the constant falling of the bullets. It's annoying to be sure. Rick's design has way fewer bullets falling back to the bottom, and less far to go.
In my "oldness" I am getting less and less able to put up with the noise....pan lid or not......really getting tempted to spend some bucks to buy a 3d machine this spring.....while Rick's invention copy is still up. (if/when I download it, Rick will get a $100 check from me....he deserves something for the design imo)
Some questions for jmorris....
1. What's the best choice (hindsight and experience noted) for a reasonable priced 3d printer......and software to run it?
2. Do you really think Rick's preoccupation with "stairsteps" in his design is reasonable?
3. Read one of the threads on castboolits, and seems you got past the "gotchas" pretty fast.....think your choice of printers helped with that?
I've been looking at the possibility of flipping bullets on the Hornady too......possibilities are there.....a 3d printer would speed that up too. I mean why waste a perfectly good machine (motor, bucket stand). What's wrong with having two for nearly the price of one?
one for pistol one for rifle? A 3d printer to make the bullet wheels.....a person could sell those.....
A person....not me. (I'm trying to retire not start something up.
)
BTW, John, wouldn't you like to see Rick's shop? Wonder if it is as elaborate as yours!