U.S. Army Develops New Electrochemical Machining for Howitzer Barrels
The U.S. Army has developed a new electrochemical machining (ECM) technique for rifling 155mm howitzer barrels, demonstrated at Benét Laboratories in New York. The no-contact process uses a cathode, salt water, and low-voltage electricity to cut all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass, reducing tool wear and costs while extending barrel life. The technology will be installed at Watervliet Arsenal, which received $1.7 billion in congressional funding for modernization amid increased demand from the Ukraine war.
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Army develops new electrochemical machining technique for rifling cannon bores
The U.S. Army has developed a new technique for cutting rifled grooves inside 155mm howitzer barrels using electrochemical machining (ECM), a no-contact process that dissolves metal with a cathode cutter, salt water, and low-voltage electricity. Demonstrated at Benet Laboratories in New York, the method cuts all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass without the tool touching the steel, leaving the bore in ideal condition for bonding a protective coating that shields against extreme heat and erosion. Officials say ECM reduces tool wear, maintenance costs, and enables complex rifling profiles previously impossible to manufacture. The technology was developed through a partnership between Benet Laboratories and industry partners. The Army plans to install an ECM machine at Watervliet Arsenal, the service's only cannon barrel manufacturer, which received $1.7 billion in congressional funding for modernization following increased demand from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Army TimesArmy develops new technique for rifling cannon bores
The U.S. Army has developed a new technique for cutting rifled grooves inside 155mm howitzer barrels using electrochemical machining (ECM), a no-contact process that dissolves metal with a cathode cutter, salt water, and low-voltage electricity. Demonstrated at Benét Laboratories in New York, the method cuts all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass without tool wear, reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Officials say the process leaves the bore in ideal condition for bonding a protective coating, extending cannon life and improving performance. The technology was developed in partnership with industry and will be installed on the production line at Watervliet Arsenal, the Army's sole cannon barrel manufacturer. Congress approved $1.7 billion to modernize the arsenal amid increased demand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Military TimesArmy develops new electrochemical machining technique for rifling cannon bores
The U.S. Army has developed a new technique for cutting rifled grooves inside 155mm howitzer barrels using electrochemical machining (ECM), a no-contact process that dissolves metal with a cathode cutter, salt water, and low-voltage electricity. Demonstrated at Benét Laboratories in New York, the method cuts all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass without the tool touching the steel, leaving the bore in ideal condition for bonding a protective coating. Officials say this extends cannon life, improves performance, and reduces manufacturing costs by virtually eliminating tool wear. The technology was developed in partnership with industry and will be installed on the production line at Watervliet Arsenal, the Army's only cannon barrel manufacturer. Congress approved $1.7 billion to modernize the arsenal amid increased demand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Military TimesArmy develops new technique for rifling cannon bores
The U.S. Army has developed a new electrochemical machining (ECM) technique for cutting rifled grooves inside 155mm howitzer barrels. The 'no contact' process uses a cathode cutter, salt water, and low-voltage electricity to dissolve metal, carving all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass without the tool touching the steel. Officials say this extends cannon life, improves performance, and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating tool wear and enabling complex rifling profiles. The protective coating bonds better to the bore, shielding the barrel from extreme heat and erosion. The technology was developed at Benét Laboratories in partnership with industry. The Army plans to install an ECM machine at Watervliet Arsenal, which received $1.7 billion in congressional funding for modernization following increased demand from the Ukraine war.
Army TimesArmy develops new electrochemical machining technique for rifling cannon bores
The U.S. Army has developed a new technique for cutting rifled grooves inside 155mm howitzer barrels using electrochemical machining (ECM), a no-contact process that dissolves metal with a cathode cutter, salt water, and low-voltage electricity. Demonstrated at Benét Laboratories in New York, the method cuts all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass without tool wear, reducing maintenance and replacement costs. Officials say the process leaves the bore in ideal condition for bonding a protective coating, which shields the barrel from extreme heat and erosion during firing. The technology, developed in partnership with industry, also enables complex rifling profiles previously impossible to manufacture. The Army plans to install an ECM machine at Watervliet Arsenal, the sole U.S. cannon barrel manufacturer, as part of a $1.7 billion modernization effort approved by Congress following increased demand from the war in Ukraine.
Army TimesArmy Develops New Electrochemical Machining Technique for Cannon Bore Rifling
The U.S. Army has developed a new technique for cutting rifled grooves inside 155mm howitzer barrels using electrochemical machining (ECM), which dissolves metal without physical contact. Demonstrated at Benét Laboratories in New York, the process cuts all 48 spiral grooves in a single pass, leaving the bore in ideal condition for bonding a protective coating that shields against extreme heat and erosion. Officials say the no-contact method reduces tool wear, lowers maintenance costs, and enables complex rifling profiles previously impossible to manufacture. The technology was developed in partnership with industry and will be installed at Watervliet Arsenal, the Army's only cannon barrel manufacturer. Congress has approved $1.7 billion to modernize the arsenal and expand production capacity amid increased demand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Military Times