Electrochemical Machining of Gun Barrel Bores and Rifling

Abstract

A special 10,000 ampere ECM machine and associated 1,000 gallon prototype electrolyte system was designed and built at Naval Ordnance Station, Louisville, Kentucky. This machine is unique in its extraordinary size and 22 1/ 2 foot stroke. Tool design and experimental machining were performed, with one quarter scale tooling for economy in establishing a basic tool design and machining parameters. With these parameters established, full size tooling was built and a full length 5'/54 caliber gun barrel was successfully bored and rifled. This represented the longest successful ECM cut ever made and demonstrates the capability for electrochemical machining major caliber gun barrels.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA072437

Entities

People

  • Lloyd E. Wessel

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Chemistry
  • Construction
  • Current Density
  • Fabrication
  • Gun Barrels
  • High Pressure
  • Kentucky
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Munitions
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Power Supplies
  • Production
  • Sodium Compounds

Readers

  • Manufacturing Engineering.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • ballistics.