Development of an Electrochemical Machining Process for Rifling Lined Gun Barrels
Abstract
A 16-month program was conducted to advance high performance gun barrel technology by developing an electrochemical machining process for rifling high performance barrel liner materials. A total of 15 electrolytes and numerous electrochemical machining parameters were evaluated in conducting electrochemical machinability studies on iron-nickel-base, nickel-base, and cobalt-base superalloys, and on refractory alloys of columbium, molybdenum, tantalum, and tungsten. Four materials (L-605, VM-103, CG-27, and alloy 718) were selected for electrochemical rifling and fabrication into caliber .220- Swift barrel liners. The rifled liners were insulated externally and assembled into outer barrel jackets using a drawing process, thus producing insulated composite test barrels. A total of 12 test barrels compatible with an MG-3 machine gun, representing the four liner materials and three jacket materials (H-11, A-286, and Pyromet X-15), were fabricated and delivered to the Air Force. The results of this program indicated that electrochemical machining is a feasible process for obtaining high quality and low cost rifling, and that extrapolation of this process to larger calibers appears feasible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0909379
Entities
People
- David L. Corn
- Richard A. Harlow
- Richard C. Kimball