Mini/Axe Fatgrip [ZDSPB Custom]

Custom work - Mini/Axe Fatgrip

This item was the final result of trying to make a round foregrip for Minis and Axes. The original idea was to make a new foregrip in the shape of a tube, but with added milling for finger grooves. After a bit of experimentation I realized that the part would end up being 3d machined on all sides, so there wasn't any reason to limit the design to a round shape. I then developed a new design that flipped the battery 90º to the side, allowing for a very different shape compared to the OEM Mini/Axe foregrips. The new design is more oblong; noticeably thinner from front-to-back, but wider from side-to-side.

Fatgrip CAD screenshot

Fatgrip comparison with stock goregrip

Above you can see a completed version of the CAD design compared to the stock/OEM foregrips. As mentioned, it's much thinner when viewed from the side, presenting a more round shape from the front.

The biggest problem presented with this foregrip was trying to find a way to ensure compatibliity with both the stock LED boards and the upgraded Redline OLED circuit board. Ultimately this is a problem that was never truly solved; there's no way to make it compatible with both simultaneous. The only possible solution is to make two versions of the grip, one for the power button and LED while the other for the joystick and OLED display.

Currently the new fatgrip is compatible only with LED boards unless there's enough demand for an OLED-compatible version someday. I don't think many people would buy the Redline upgrade along with a new foregrip as the cost for all those upgrades is quite high.

Prototyping:
Development picked up on the design once the decision was made to concentrate on the LED boards and save OLED boards for later. I made a 3d printed prototype in order to test the ergonomics on a marker.

Fatgrip 3d printed prototype

Fatgrip 3d printed prototype installed on marker

Fatgrip 3d printed prototype installed on marker with foregrip extender

I was surprised to find the 3d printed version did indeed fit on the marker's trigger guard dovetail. Regardless, the design was viable but needed a few small tweaks to fix cosmetics and make it a little thicker around the battery compartment. I also added a small lip where the two halves meet, to reduce the amount of liquid and debris that could enter the inside.

I then turned my attention to machining a prototype in order to gather time statistics on how long they actually took to produce. The final aluminum prototypes turned out good, although they don't match until anodizing...

Fatgrip aluminum prototype internals

Fatgrip aluminum prototype installed on marker

Fatgrip aluminum prototype installed on marker with foregrip extender

Fatgrip aluminum prototype installed on marker

Production:
These are now available via Nummech Products. Here's some pictures of anodized grips installed on a marker:

Fatgrip installed with Mini VL frame

Fatgrip installed with Mini VL frame and foregrip extender

Redline version:
Currently I'm exploring the possability of making an OLED-compatible grip. I'm unsure if this will be possible due to manufacturing reasons. Time will tell...