Better brass, higher-quality tools and an understanding of machine assets and limitations all help ammunition manufacturers produce premium parts with less downtime.
That’s the message from Jeremy Edson, stamping product manager at Wilson Tool International, White Bear Lake, MN. Here he details how materials, advanced tools and machines can come together to create casings that meet the stringent demands of the military, law enforcement and sports enthusiasts.
Brass quality and unnecessary downtime, along with tool breakage and wear are some of the many challenges ammunition manufacturers face. When the firing pin hits a brass casing, a timer sets off the gunpowder, which then forces the bullet out of the casing through the barrel of the gun and to the target. Subpar casings increase the likelihood of misfires.
Made from stamping tools called head stamps or bunters, brass casings notoriously bring inherent manufacturing challenges. Because brass is malleable, ensuring consistency in the brass quality is imperative for creating premium ammunition. Consequently, poor quality can adversely affect tooling as well, causing premature tool wear and breakage.
Continue reading in Metalforming Magazine.
April 01, 2018