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A REVIEW OF FUTURE TRENDS IN 3-D PRINTING OF ARMAMENT AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
Abstract
Advances in Computer aided design (CAD), modeling and Three-dimensional (3D) printing has led to paradigm shift in development of innovative and miniaturized explosive devices for armament applications. In conventional techniques, explosives are either pressed or casted and machined to required geometry. These conventional processes are mostly manual and monotonous; require high-cost tooling and the lead-time from concept to product is high. 3D printing is an automated additive manufacturing process in which the material is deposited layer-by-layer to build physical part with any intricate geometry and profile, from the CAD model of the part. 3D printing of explosive devices offers advantages of computer aided design techniques, automation, direct physical part fabrication, low lead-time, low cost and any geometrical shape can be printed. It also offers advantage of printing explosive parts in the battlefields. In this paper, along with the detailed review of future trends in 3D printing of armament and explosive devices, a case study of 3D printing of plastic bullets in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) material is presented. The plastic bullets are used in low intensity conflicts and riot control. The experimental firing trials were conducted using standard AK- 47 gun firing on Gelatin target blocks placed at 30 m distance from the muzzle of the gun. The trials showed performance of ABS bullets in terms of lethality and velocity drop comparable to existing plastic bullets made of Nylon-66 manufactured by injection molding process. 3D printed ABS bullets have advantage of batch-to-batch repeatability, high accuracy. 3D printing is revolutionizing the way armament and explosive devices are manufactured, performance improvement and miniaturization.
DOI
10.12783/ballistics22/36044
10.12783/ballistics22/36044
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