Author Topic: How do they weld those Contender barrel blocks? (Read 1125 times)

Dr. Michael · « **on:** June 14, 2003, 05:31:28 PM »

I was just wondering how they do that without totally destroying any barrel temper/stress. I can only figure out that it whoudl completely warp the heck out of the chamber area.

thanks
Doc

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2003, 08:46:58 PM »

I'm guessing a TIG torch but have no real knowledge.. TIGs can weld sheet metal without undo warping if the user is skilled. Anyone know for certain?

RonF · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2003, 01:58:45 AM »

T/C's early advertising indiated electron beam welding, as I recall. Don't know that I've heard anything mentioned lately on this issue, but the welds look the same to me today that they did in 1968.

RonF

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2003, 07:27:02 AM »

OK, I'll ask.. What's 'electron beam' mean. electric welders use electrons to generate the heat to fuse metal. An arc is an 'electron beam'. Is it just a fancy name for a machine operated TIG welder??

KN · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2003, 11:50:36 AM »

Electron beam welding uses a laser and a computer controled machine. I can't really explain it but if you ever get the chance to watch one it's worth your time. KN

Casper · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2003, 07:48:06 AM »

Well...I don't know how they do it, but the best way I can see is as follows. Without getting to technical, you heat both the barrel and lug red hot and weld it in that state. then reheat and cool. If done properly, there are no ill side effects and the properties of the part will be unchanged. Not something I would try in the backyard. We have to do this sort of thing at work, from time to time on pressure containing parts.

KN · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2003, 12:02:53 PM »

For a better explaination go to http://www.joiningtech.com/pages/refebw2.html

Pretty good article. KN

JimInNJ · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2003, 02:23:35 PM »

Did you realize that you have three electron beam guns pointed at your head right now? :eek:

Unless you have a flat panel display.

- Jim

RonF · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2003, 02:53:56 AM »

VERY cool, KN. Thanks.

RonF

gunnut69 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2003, 06:46:59 AM »

Very cool! A focused beam. That's amazing... Thanks for the info!!

KN · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2003, 11:48:21 AM »

I can't take much credit for it, I just punched in "electron beam welding" on google and it was the first thing that poped up. KN

savageT · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2003, 03:46:19 AM »

As you say, Very Interesting!!!!! I spent my career before retirement running an electron microscope which is for the most part exactly like the drawing you see for electron welding....just a matter of how much energy you transmit to the workpiece. They use that same exact technique to "write" a pattern on an integrated chip master to create a circuit with details smaller than what you can see through an optical microscope.

I don't think that gun makers can afford that sort of technology.....but who knows?

I would tend to believe these parts are welded in a tunnel furnace where it goes in on a belt at one end, gets heated under an innert atmosphere of hydrogen, and the parts are fused together with filler, flux already in place, and comes out the other side ready for the next assembly step. That's what I saw at Remington's Illion factory.

Jim

Robert · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2003, 04:56:06 PM »

sounds right to me

kend · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2003, 04:36:26 PM »

I was told they were Electron Beam welded until the factory burnt down a few years back and the EB machines were so expensive to replace with no real advantage they just went back to TIG welding them.

Paul H · « **Reply #14 on:** July 25, 2003, 03:06:28 PM »

The barrels are chambered after the blocks are TIG welded on.

Who says there is no warping in the barrels? If you bore sight and or indicate out a barrel, you'll find many have some degree of warpage.