Firearm Component Process

By leveraging the advantages of powdered metallurgy at Volunteer Sintered Products, we recently helped one of our clients measurably improve the pace of their assembly operations. The powdered metal process suits complex components requiring close tolerances and excellent finishes. In addition, process efficiencies can be found by combining previously separate parts into a single piece to eliminate downstream joining and assembly steps.

With our prominent reputation in the field of powdered metallurgy, the purchasing manager at a leading firearms manufacturer requested that we review the print and submit a quote on the component shown here. They were currently machining the component in-house from bar stock. The part was also causing difficulty on the assembly line, negatively impacting their daily production rates.

We immediately determined that this part's small three-dimensional shape made it an ideal candidate for sintered powdered metal processing. After the purchasing manager received our bid, they invited us to their facility to review the manufacturing process, print tolerances, and fit and functionality of our design. Our approach involved compacting a pre-alloyed steel powder in a precision die, assembly of the compacted workpieces, and sintering to produce the desired strength, density, and dimensional stability. We also specified finish grinding to achieve the exact dimensional tolerances.

By converting this previously machined part to powder metallurgy, this firearm manufacturer realized 70% cost savings. They removed six workstations from the production line and improved their daily production rate considerably.

Contact Us today to learn more about this project or our firearm capabilities. We're ready to assist you with your needs or request a free quote.