Manufacturing handle scales.

[Carlos]

One thing that might help us understand and discuss designs and applications, is the manufacturing methods used for the different materials.



I know that:



1. FRN is injection molded.



2. G10 is machined from flat sheets, or laid-up into molds.



3. Micarta is also machined from sheets.



But how are metal scales manufactured(Stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and magnesium)? Are they machined, cold forged, extruded?



A side query for Sal: Now that we appear to be in an FRN Renaissance (vesuvius, lynx, temperance fb), I was wondering if you had a chance to experiment with Terzoula-style carbon fiber filament reinforced nylon. I was thinking that Lynx or the Temperance FB might make a good market test-bed for it.

[sal]

Hi Carlos.

Stainless handles are usually stamped or cut out with a lazer.

Aluminum can be cut out as steel, or cast. It can also be MIMed.

Titan can be cut with a lazer with special gasses or cut out from sheet and machined. Titan can also be cast or metal injection molded (MIM)

I played with the CF FRN when Bob first started doing them. They are short fibers and we couldn't see a real advantage over what we're using.

sal

[Carlos]

Thanks Sal,

It seems like MIM would be realistic way to finally get checkering or some other form of texture onto aluminum and titanium scales. I recall that you mentioned that checkering that is too agressive rips up clothing, have you thought about using a "weave" pattern like G10 has, rather than a diamond point checkering?

Also, could MIM theoretically be used to make a Lynx with aluminum scales and molded pugs? (I'm not proposing it -- just curious about the potential of the technology.)

[sal]

Hi Carlos. MIM is usually for smaller parts, maybe 1" x 1" x 2". and very expensive for tooling. One would have to plan on tens of thousands of parts to make it practical. But yes, it might be possible. Some of the MIM mfgrs "claim" to be able to make larger parts.

sal

[Carlos]

Hi Sal,

Oh well. We'll get affordable textured metal scales one of these days! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

One more thought on advanced FRN: Have you ever looked at Grivory's GV-6H? It is a nylon reinforced with 60% fiberglass fill -- which is 50% to 100% more than is usually used or considered possible with Zytel or other FRNs.

EDI has used for the Genesis II, and my friends who have bought it are quite happy with it as an alternative to G10.

They make another formulation of Grivory that caught my eye, GC-4H, which has a 40% fill of carbon fiber.

Here the url of the manufacturer's US webpage:

http://www.us.emschem.com/ep/

And to the two specific formulations of Grivory.

http://www.us.emschem.com/ep/products/grivory/grivory_gv-6h.html

http://www.us.emschem.com/ep/products/grivory/grivory_gc-4h.html

[sal]

Hi Carlos. We've been using Grivory for our FRN models made in Seki since 1990.

sal

Edited by - sal on 6/21/2001 7:54:42 AM

[Carlos]

Hi Sal,

You are too quiet about these things. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>Grivory is a marketable feature, like Zytel. Which formulations do you use?

[sal]

Hi Carlos. Can't tell all all of the time.

We generally stay in the 30% - 40% range. 60% is possible, but can be brittle.

sal