Pilot Production of Powder Forged Steel Components for the 25-mm M242 Chain Gun
Abstract
The powder forging process was demonstrated by the manufacture of prototype aft feed sprockets of 4640 alloy steel for the 25 mm M242 chain gun. Finish machining of the bore was required, but the complex contours of the sprocket arms were forged to net shape. Powder forging produced a fully dense microstructure equivalent or superior to the wrought product presently being used. The aft feed sprocket had been selected as a primary candidate for powder forging in an earlier program. Production in the current program was in accord with a draft military specification for 4600 alloy series powder forged components. The specification is included as an appendix to this report. Powder forging was shown to be a viable manufacturing process for this type of component. The blueprint design requirements for the sprocket were achieved. The requirements in the military specification were also met and found to be reasonable from the perspective of a powder forging manufacturer. The next step in the implementation process will be qualification testing of powder forged components, including field testing and comparison with the performance of the currently used wrought product. During the course of the program, data were developed on sintering powder metal parts in a dissociated ammonia atmosphere enriched with natural gas (methane).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA208966
Entities
People
- C. R. Boyer
- John Burlingame
- R. J. Shipley