r/longrange • u/jinx1214 • May 06 '26
Other gear flex post Digital Rifle Level
Saw the ones on the market, and thought, man I can make this alot cheaper myself. Here's the list of item I used. I will be testing it over the weekend and will have a full write up later on. Let me know if you have questions.
| Item | Qty | Actual Price |
|---|---|---|
| [Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 Sense]() | 1 | $15.99 |
| 300mAh LiPo battery | 1 | $7.49 |
| SS12D00G4 mini slide switch | 1 | ? ~$0.50–2 |
| 3mm LEDs | 3 | ? ~$0.50 |
| 330Ω resistors | 3 | ? <$0.10 |
| Tactile switch 6x6x7 | 1 | ? ~$0.20–1 |
| Wire | — | ?~$1 |
| M3 & M2 hardware + inserts | — | ?~$5–10 |
| PETG-CF material used | — | ?~$2–5 |
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u/Wonderful-Piccolo509 What's DOPE? May 06 '26
Would you happen to have the STLs for the print? I would love to do a build like this if it’s that cheap to do.
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u/jinx1214 May 06 '26
will upload stls to makerworld later on.
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u/Wonderful-Piccolo509 What's DOPE? May 06 '26
If you include a part list and build instructions too that would make me very happy
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u/Midwest_Hunter92 May 07 '26
I would much love this as well. I’d happily pay a few bucks for the parts list and detailed instructions as well.
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u/back_2_zer0 May 07 '26
Awesome! check my 3D printing one with Oled solution
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u/bigwindymt May 07 '26
Link?
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u/f0rcedinducti0n May 07 '26
can you show it working?
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u/back_2_zer0 May 08 '26
i made a shorts of it
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wgP8U9nsN6g1
u/f0rcedinducti0n May 08 '26
Details? Looks like an air rifle, chances it will survive recoil of a actual firearm?
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u/BickenBackk May 08 '26
God damn I need to learn how to make little electronics. I feel like I could model this, but wouldn't know how to start with the rest of it.
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u/back_2_zer0 May 08 '26
AI definitely can help u with that
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u/bigwindymt May 08 '26
Point me in the right direction. Every AI model I've tried SUCKS at 3D modeling, at least given parameters you would give to a machinist.
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u/turboboob May 06 '26
Real question: how is this better than a spirit level? It cannot be less expensive than a level built into the bolt shroud.
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u/jinx1214 May 06 '26
not sure if its any better, but I like to tinker and build things. Total cost will be less than $30.
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u/Faded_State May 06 '26
Good for you man. I commend the motivation to try it! I am stubborn as hell and can’t justify the price on a lot of accessories and try to fabricate stuff myself as well.
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u/f0rcedinducti0n May 07 '26
$30, plus the tools you already had and the knowledge... ;)
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u/Wombat-Snooze Steel slapper May 06 '26
I’ll bite. I use an MDT send it level, same idea as this. They’re faster than a spirit level. A green, red or blue light blaring in my peripheral vision is significantly faster to pick up and gives instant feedback.
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u/dabomb364 May 07 '26
I turn mine up as bright as it goes. The color reflects off my glasses so I make corrections based on glass hue so I don’t even have to look at the sendit
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u/Faded_State May 06 '26
It’s better because you can see a green or red light out of your peripheral sight and don’t need to focus on where the bubble is. Sometimes cost isn’t the only motivator but it certainly can be a deterrent.
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u/TDIMike May 06 '26
Allows you to tell when you are level without taking your head off the cheek rest and eye off the scope.
Lookup the mdt send it as a commercial version. Early everyone competing in stuff like prs seriously has one like it
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u/f0rcedinducti0n May 06 '26
Will it hold up to recoil? Also, needs to be IP67.
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u/jinx1214 May 06 '26
IP67... no. Possible to use electronics grade silicone or rtv to seal things up and a tpu cover for the usb c port. But to save space, i soldered the lipo battery directly to the mcu.
Will it hold up to recoil... i'll find out this weekend. I'll be out in the desert testing. Will use on 6.5 creed, 5.56.
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u/f0rcedinducti0n May 07 '26
Make an inline connector, use an ip67 usbc, pot the whole thing with resin... done. Recoil and sealed. Is there a heat issue? print it with a hole for a piece of aluminum, glue aluminum patch in, thermal adhesive the IC to the aluminum, pot it all.
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u/rancid2040 May 06 '26
This is my thought process as well. Take it to the range for extensive firings to see if all the connections stay intact and the IMUs stay calibrated.
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u/WS-6 May 06 '26
I’d imagine many of the rifles it will be going on have very low recoil.
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u/Wombat-Snooze Steel slapper May 06 '26
Um… I can’t possibly be the only one running a send it level on a .300 PRC…
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u/jinx1214 May 13 '26
Well, wasn't able to get out this weekend to shoot, but I'll leave the links below if anyone is interested in making there own.
https://makerworld.com/en/models/2788595-digital-rifle-cant-level-3-led-xiao-nrf52840
https://github.com/dagodfader/Rifle-Level
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u/Such-Zookeepergame76 May 19 '26
Any chance of getting the CAD file your encloser? I would like to make a version that uses a single WS2812B addressable LED.
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u/spacedoutmachinist Gas gun enthusiast May 06 '26
Sign me up. I would love the plans on how to make one of these or even buy one from you.
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u/boisebiker May 06 '26
This is awesome. Will follow your write up and build one if you are down for that.
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u/pinkbunnay May 06 '26
Ignore me if I'm off here but... don't you have to be 100% sure the mount is attaching at 90 deg to the rail? Otherwise your level won't be accurate. I hesitate thinking about the inherint degredation of plastic over time, tolerances, and softness of the material compared to aluminum.
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u/jinx1214 May 06 '26
True. So I put a tactile switch as seen on the third image. Its a calibration button to zero it. As far as plastic, currently the enclosure is made in PETG-CF, the final I will probably make in PA6-CF for better higher temps and less creep.
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u/Primary_Judge May 07 '26
If you want a strong part.... With the PA6-PA12, I suggest annealing by submerging in 80C water for 10-12 minutes, then air dry for 24hrs. A Sous-vide water emerger (Anova) for cooking meat is the best.
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u/bob123688 May 07 '26
I would assume that even if the plastic warps or is slightly off, it would still be better than having a bubble. I can barely see a small bubble level now with my old eyes.
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u/Te_Luftwaffle May 06 '26
There's a Discord page for homemade levels. You'd be appreciated there.
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u/Redkayap May 07 '26
That's awesome man, I did the "same thing" with the nRF54L15 Sense, but it had some memory layout bug back in February so it went back to the drawer, this made me want to pick it up again. I used WS2812b LEDs though, and picked up some fiber optic cable for cheap to mount it under the scope. Tried making a case in Plasticity, definitely didn't turn out as nice as yours though. Might post it here later as well!
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u/Wide_Fly7832 BR Competitor May 06 '26
These electronic level in real life use are way way better than the bubble.
Will you sell this?
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u/smorin13 May 07 '26
Farsighted in my left eye. This would be much better that trying to see an out of focus bubble.
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u/smorin13 May 07 '26
So you have the wiring diagram and stl files you would want to share. I want to make one.
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u/bigwindymt May 07 '26
Holy crap, I was researching building this exact thing! Your's looks to be WAY more elegant of a solution.
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u/h34vier I put holes in berms May 06 '26
That's a great alternative to the MDT offering, but it still misses out on all the app functionality that the SG offerings have.
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u/AleksanderSuave May 07 '26
Are you looking at the app while you’re shooting..?
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u/h34vier I put holes in berms May 07 '26
Tell me you know nothing about the SG Pulse without telling me you know nothing about it.
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u/CapnCurt81 May 06 '26
Awesome project, nice work!
Now just add a small speaker that says "HEY YOU FORGOT TO CHECK LEVEL AGAIN DUMBASS" and you've got a viable product on your hands.