Is there any reason I couldn't use wire EDM to manufacture firearms parts, and eventually actions?

none, I use the local guy for a few items. All it takes is LOTS of money. Sorts makes my Haas mill cost look like lunch money.

I suppose you could but there are easier and cheaper ways !

The only issue is are you going to buy a machine or are you going to farm out the work?

I ask only to get your level of experience in using wire EDM. The reason is what is called the recast layer. You are melting away material and that material that doesn't melt away but is near the cut gets recast back onto the part. With a clean up cut on the wire EDM the surface finish can be controlled and the recast layer kept thin. But in the world of production speed is everything. and a heavy recast layer can create problems.

So What I'm getting at is sure you can use a wire EDM butI would reserve it for specialized areas.

No single machine can do it all and if it could it wont be fast. Each machine machine has it's place Mill, Lathe, & EDM All can be used together to increase production output and still make accurate parts.

For certain applications the wire EDM is an absolutely amazing/accurate machine.

This is just my opinion, and will likely start a debate (argument?)...

If I was going to buy one tool I felt was really necessary to "producing" single-shot actions for sale, it would be the very best CNC mill I could afford. Other tools would also be required, but that's where I would start.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
This is just my opinion, and will likely start a debate (argument?)...

If I was going to buy one tool I felt was really necessary to "producing" single-shot actions for sale, it would be the very best CNC mill I could afford. Other tools would also be required, but that's where I would start.

Yep
Nothing like a good CNC possibly with a 4th axis.

A good mill and proper fixturing can go a long way.

We had an EDM machine back in the '60s and we had fun with it. Like drilling .005" holes in things !
It was kind of a 'toy' to play with but all in the name of metallurgy !!

I could offer some input but I don't know much about EDM after 25 years of running them....all kinds

They are no toy..... And by today's standard very fast

Wire EDM is already used extensively for manufacturing parts like 1911 hammers. If you have parts that are basically 2 dimensional in design they can be wire sliced with little tooling other than a program. The wire is capable of making nested parts. Say you want to cut out a lever with a loop such as a 86 Winchester, you could also cut the hammer in the waste material of the loop along with some other parts.

The cost of (consumables) alone will stager most people...factor wire, filters, resin and tooling even before the machine cost (wir EDM)

M.I.M. has stormed far far ahead of any maching of 1911 parts...the company I formerly worked for builds many molds for this industry

http://www.megamet.com/

As I understand it, Bailey Bradshaw used an EDM machine to make the actions for his Falling Block doubles.
How about one of these?

Problem is that ain't a EDM its a VMC or for the lay person a CNC milling center.

Correct you are! The Hurco has been a workhorse for us! We sold our die sinking EDM. Needed the floor space.

You must not build molds then

Wire EDM is nice for building mold but not really required to get the job done. That said it is a very nice tool to have in your shop and can do things that no other machine can do.

Every time a subject like this comes up I regret not picking up a Charmilles E110. The guy didn't know what he had couldn't tell anybody any thing about it and then called me back with a reduced offer. I should have bought it and stored it till I could put it to use.

I can do anything a wire EDM can do with a conventional sinker....just not as fast but way more versatile

Thats the thing and thats what I was getting at with the "No single machine" thing.
I can also do anything a fifth axis can do on my manual bridge port. It just may take me twenty years to finish that Titanium rotor blade.

But the Charmilles E110 is a nice little bench top machine that can do a lot of work. produces great surface finishes and is very easy to operate and set up.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Correct you are! The Hurco has been a workhorse for us! We sold our die sinking EDM. Needed the floor space.

Hurco's are a very underrated machine.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
The cost of (consumables) alone will stager most people...factor wire, filters, resin and tooling even before the machine cost (wir EDM)

M.I.M. has stormed far far ahead of any maching of 1911 parts...the company I formerly worked for builds many molds for this industry

http://www.megamet.com/

A lot of people think that way. Others are like one shop that I visited. It had 15 wire machines cutting surgical instrument parts.
Many people can't get past the thought of using those machines for production work.

For those who don't know....the wire is one and done! as is rolls through the guids it is trash

Stainless steel tooling is also a plus

Several 700 clones have their lug raceways cut using wire EDM.

And that's why Kimber got a a bad rep.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
The cost of (consumables) alone will stager most people...factor wire, filters, resin and tooling even before the machine cost (wir EDM)

M.I.M. has stormed far far ahead of any maching of 1911 parts...the company I formerly worked for builds many molds for this industry

http://www.megamet.com/

A lot of people think that way. Others are like one shop that I visited. It had 15 wire machines cutting surgical instrument parts.
Many people can't get past the thought of using those machines for production work.

Elaborate?

When anything needs to be accurate and is a complex form, wire is the only way to go. Nothing else makes sense from a cost perspective. Firearms, I do not know, to me you would probably have a hard time justifying a new machine, used, no problem.

The company I work has 5 wire machines. They run 24/365. We also have 24 additional wire machines dedicated to only our work at outside companies running 24/365. The parts they make would be near impossible to make otherwise.

However they require highly skilled operators with highly skilled support. As mentioned consumables are extremely expensive. A friend and I looked at buying a used Charmilles with few hours from the original owner (which my friend knew well). For a mere $25k it sounded like a steal until we starting looking at software, consumables, and lost time learning the machine. Cheaper (for him and I at least) to farm it out.

I don't own a Kimber but there were a few problems with MIM parts on them.

quote:

M.I.M.

Some of my wire EDM parts. First is my Prototype CZ 452 trigger.



Next is my bolt release for my L46 Sako.



This is the trigger guard for my Pierce receiver.



After the handwork.



This is my form tool to rebate case rims when needed. It was made by wire.



I have some other parts, but this will give some of you the idea.

Thank you all,

I talked to Dakota Arms this morning and they use EDM for a huge portion of their machining.

The guy told me I was right about it being excellent for firearms manufacturing.

Butch
Thanks for the little slide show.

I will add another $.02 worth.

The 2D geometry is consrained only by the radius of the wire so you can cut really sharp internal corner radii and drill square holes if you want.

If you get your part designed with solid modeling software the programmer can generate the part program with the data file.

Some of the machines are 5 axis with allows them to tilt the wire in 2 axes.

They can cut to ± .0002 inch tolerance.

There are some really chunky scope mount rings that are made this way. I suspect some of the very light weight rings are too. Custom rings would be easy. So would a lot of revolver and single shot rifle parts.