Ascardia Lower Assembly (ALA) for M4 / M16 / AR15 Airsoft (V2 based)

Disclaimer (because people are stupid): I am not responsible for any damage you deal to your airsoft replica or own body by using or attaching this design. Please keep in mind that this is not a true "plug'n play" part. It demands some basic technician skills and some understanding of how airsoft guns work. Asking "How do I get my cables down to the pistol grip?" means you are not the target audience. In addition this release is done with "low effort". Why? I hesitated to release the files for two reasons. First: I will not change or adjust anything because it was done in SketchUp which is hard to use after all the changes Trimble applied and I also changed to another CAD tool. Yes, this means the design itself is pretty old. Yes, I will not change anything here. Second: people in the hobby did not behave. There is a license on this design. The design is free. Some took the AUA and claimed "I made this". Some even tried to sell it. I am tired of hunting down such creatures. Consider this release an "experimental move". Once I notice the same with the ALA...

What is it?

This design allows AEG players to get an ESG style grip the easy way without the need of HPA or heavy modifications to the gun itself. It uses the PTS Enhanced Polymer Grip (the one with beaver tail) to avoid a perhaps brittle printed one. The angle of the grip is ~30° which is not great but you get used to it. There are better designs with a more comfortable angle out there. Yes, you have to pay those. So the ALA should be considered a cheaper way to try this kind of stuff and style. In combination with the https://www.printables.com/model/900528-ascardia-upper-assembly-aua-for-m4-m16-ar15-airsof it is possible to create a really lightweight speedsoft gun. All in all the "M4 à la AUA" is more like a proof of concept.

Why the PTS EPG? It comes with threaded heat inserts, uses metric threads and screw length is not that crucial. The motor angle is great for most regular builds. The beaver tail brings down the hand position (which the EPG-C does not).

BOM

replica with Deans connectors and rear-wired EFCS
knowledge about V2 gearbox shells and wire routing
1 pcs. PTS EPG
2 pcs. M3x20mm cylinder screw
1 pcs. Dean connector (optional)

Modifications done to PTS EPG

All modifications are done to the pistol grip to keep the replica itself fully reversible. The necessary modifications are shown in the pictures. You need to create an opening big enough for the Deans connector at the top part. You have to cut one "rip" of the bottom plate to allow the wire routing into the printed adapter / shoe.

Wire routing

All the wires need to be guided at the back of the grip. See pictures for reference. Once you reached the moment to guide the Deans connector through the adapter / shoe, try to insert it with the broader pare pointing to the back. Some bended pliers may be handy.

Battery compartment

I added two tubes (200mm and 240mm) for a pleasant apperance. Since the thread is M32x1,5 you can also use the outer barrels from the AUA as battery compartment (what I still do) or modify the given files either online or in your slicer. I did not design a compartment that looks, feels and allows handling / ergonomics of the HPA tank role model. You know the thread size now -> feel free to do it yourself if you want that "feature".

Print Settings

Rafts: Doesn't Matter

Supports: Doesn't Matter

Resolution: 0.20

Infill: ~30%, Gyroid

Notes:
I recommend to use at least 3 walls. 4 would be better.
The red model in the pictures is made from PETG what I do not recommend. Try PLA, PLA+ / Though PLA instead.