CH-53 Gun Mount Adapter
Abstract
Lockheed Martin AeroParts, Inc. (LMAPI), Johnstown, Pennsylvania, produces gun turret components for military helicopters, including the Sikorsky CH-53. Machining the 12-inch x 18-inch x 4-inch diamond-shaped aluminum gun mount adapter is challenging because of the intricate ISO grid pattern designed to reduce weight and provide strength. Machining the ISO grid requires the use of high-speed machining techniques. Lockheed Martin has implemented the use of z-axis milling techniques for roughing the component, but sought the help of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) to reduce machining time and optimize the finish milling operations, which include an M60 x 1.5 mm 4-inch-deep threaded hole in the component, which currently takes 1.5 hours to complete using a single point-threading tool.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA481852
Entities
Organizations
- National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining