Titanium Socket for 120 mm Mortar Base
Abstract
The U.S. Army's Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, was commissioned to reduce the weight of the base for the 120mm mortar. Their efforts included replacing an approximately 5.5-inch-diameter steel base support with one made of titanium 6AL-4V. Titanium weighs 45 percent less than steel, is stronger and more resilient, and doesn't rust. However, its unique properties also make it difficult to machine productively. ARDEC was spending excessive time turning a profile of a ball socket into the component that supports the mortar tube. ARDEC requested the assistance of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). NCDMM analyzed the operation and recommended new tooling for both turning and drilling aspects of the base machining process. High performance PVD-coated carbide cutting insert material was introduced for the profile turning operation, and upgraded indexable insert drills were employed for roughing out the bore. Both turning speed and depth of cut increased, producing a metal removal rate 10 times greater than achieved previously. Drilling speeds also increased by 40 percent.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 22, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA481938
Entities
Organizations
- National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining