M26 Pershing Production Images

[Armortek]

Production has started!!

Today the first part rolled off a 5 Axis Machining Centre - the first position Bump Stop that sits above the first roadwheel.

The image quality is not great because the aluminium is far too reflective - we will get some better images once the part have been through de-burring - although that will not be for a while as we focus on getting the Panther G parts packed up and out the way


.

On the real thing

[Armortek]

Manufacturing images of the Idler Arm on the M26 Pershing

This really shows the power of a 5 Axis machine - all 6 sides of the billet can be machined at once, leaving just a thin aluminium web that can be snapped off to leave an (almost) finished part.

[Robert E Morey]

Beautiful looking parts! Do you find machining from billet more economical than a casting? Seems like a lot of waste from billet, but perhaps faster than waiting on castings from suppliers.
Look forward to more Pershing progress.
Bob

[Armortek]

Thanks Bob.

It is often a fine decision between what will get machined vs what will get cast. The things we need to consider are:
- Once cast, do we still need to machine the part. If there is lots of machining, then it is almost not worth having the part cast. There is also the consideration of how we will be able to accurately and repeatably hold hundreds of cast parts to be precisely machined. Unless parts are die cast, there is a significant variation in surface dimensions and finish.
- Cost of the mould (or mold depending on your version of English). Investment casting moulds for the sorts of parts we make cost anywhere between USD2,000 to USD30,000 whilst die cast mould costs anywhere between USD10,000 to several 10's of thousands. If we are only making 100 parts, then that's a high cost to amortise over a few parts.
- Time needed to have the pattern made, samples sent across for validation and then production.
- And finally - do we actually have a choice on whether a part needs to get cast or not. For example, Tracks and Pershing turret - both of those have to be cast.

All the above factor into the decisions on dozens of parts that we make - rarely does casting come out as the process of choice - normally anywhere between 1% to 5% of the parts that make up a kit.

[Robert E Morey]

Thanks Armortek - makes total sense. For small volume and complex parts, 5 and 6 axis machines give a lot of flexibility. Wonderful to discuss these process insights.

whether cast or machined (or both) I'm sure the Pershing will be stunning.

BTW the latest castings for E8 are in my opinion much better than past - the quality has improved!

Happy to be an AT customer all these years and see the growth and improvements.
Best regards,
Bob

[Armortek]

Machining the suspension bogie from a large Aluminium block - PART 1/2

The FIRST (of two) machining operations on the M26 Pershing Tank.

In this first operation we machine the through holes for the suspension shaft and the fixing holes for the torsion bar suspension system.

The second operation will then add the visual details on the other side of the part.
Material is Aluminium 6082.

[Armortek]

Machining the suspension bogie from a large Aluminium block - PART 2/2

The SECOND (of two) machining operations on the 1:6 scale M26 Pershing Tank.

In the first operation we machined the through holes for the suspension shaft and the fixing holes for the torsion bar suspension system.

In this second operation we add the visual details on the other side of the part.
Material is Aluminium 6082.

[Armortek]

The suspension arm and roadwheel hub for the M26

[Mike Conley]

WOW!!! THAT is BEAUTIFUL!!!

[Damon Resch]

I’m really enjoying these machining videos and updates thanks for sharing them.

[Jerry Carducci]

Almost a shame to paint such gorgeous parts...

j

[Armortek]

Exciting times!
Yesterday our sample castings arrived. 3 parts - the front armour, the engine deck "T" piece and the mantlet. We will still need to wait 2-3 weeks for the turret casting.

Two of the parts are spot on and we are very happy with them. We will get the machining jigs and CNC program for the T piece done later this week - the others will need to wait until some mating parts are ready.

One of the parts has a very obvious error - let's see if you can work it out. The answer will be at the bottom of this post.
Unfortunately, the error means that the moulds need to be re-done. The supplier is checking if the moulds can be fixed or whether new moulds would be easier. Either way, it will be at least a couple of weeks delay.

Mantlet casting

"T" piece casting

Front armour casting

The casting that has the issue is the front armour casting - for some reason the casters though the tank needed two machine gun placements!
Nonetheless, we can use this part to prove out our jig and the machining program. Will probably machine off the second machine gun position and fill it with car filler for our prototype build. At least that way we do not hold up the production process.

[Mike Conley]

I was wondering what the big 'blister' in front of the driver's position is. On the right is the MG position but there shouldn't be a blister on the left... it kind'a looks like it might need a big 'bra'..

[John Clarke]

It's a prototype! Nice to see Armortek showing production problems, it's not always rosy in the garden.
Still, it wouldn't surprise, the Americans always like to give everyone a gun.

[Jerry Carducci]

...
Still, it wouldn't surprise, the Americans always like to give everyone a gun.

Well, we've been known to provide them to our friends also, when the times required them!

Y'know, Arsenal of Democracy and all that...



I think the Pershing is going to be quite the looker..

Jerry