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Posted: 3/31/2009 9:58:12 AM EDT
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KingC had posted recently asking if I would go through the process of manufacturing magazines. This is how it is done at C Products:
Every aluminum magazine body starts with T1 aluminum and are stamped in halves. They are welded with 6 welds per side for a 30 round magazine. The welding is done by hand, fixture or robotically. Each magazine is magwell tested and a follower dropped through at the weld stations.. Each lot is tested for weld integrity. It is a 100lb pull test. A weld must with stand 100 lb of pressure before separating and it must pull an ingot when it separates. They are then sent to be heat treated to a T6 hardness. This is a 12 hour process. Each lot is certified by the heat treater and a test is again performed for weld integrity. This is a 100 lb pressure test on each weld. This is done with a pneumatic device without the spring, follower or floor plate. All hand welded magazines are then sanded to remove any aluminum burrs. The robotically welded magazines do not need this step. Then they are hard coat anodized and coated. Either moly or Teflon. Each lot is certified by the coater for thickness. Each lot is then tested again for weld integrity. The magazines are assembled. After assembly they are once again magwell tested and the follower is depressed 3 times and sealed in a 4 mil poly bag. Packaged 100 per box or sent to the Internet department to be shipped to individuals. The stainless steel magazines go through the same process with the exception that they are passivated before coating and there is no sanding. There is also periodic range testing. This is normally a training for all our employees. Each employee if they so desire has as many range days as they like. I hope this helps. If anyone is ever in the Newington, Connecticut area give us a call and set an appointment to see the plant. Happy to have you there. Larry |
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Quoted:
There is also periodic range testing. This is normally a training for all our employees. Each employee if they so desire has as many range days as they like. I hope this helps. If anyone is ever in the Newington, Connecticut area give us a call and set an appointment to see the plant. Happy to have you there. Larry Forgive me if I misinterpret you sir, but are you suggesting that I could have a job where I do nothing but pull a trigger all day?  Yay!
Also, what is passivation? |
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Larry - if I can ask - when in the process do you do dimensional inspections? I'm assuming the stamping & forming operation is monitored. but when do you check the assembled halves & how often?
Each process has a first piece inspection report. The magazines have 5-7 CTF dimensions, critical to function. Because we dimple our magazines, looks like 8 welds per side, we know the feedlip dimension is always correct. We are starting to dimple our stainless steel magazines also. Larry |
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Quoted:
You should invite the Discovery Channel over and make an episode of "How it's Made". I'd really love to see that one. They have contacted us and we are trying to work out the details. Larry Yeah I will be running the VCR for that one. No I don't have a DVR - I am cheap bastard. |
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I just wanted to throw in . . . thank you for stepping up to the bat with the 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 mags. You have done a tremendous service to the shooting community by providing these, and we all owe you a debt of gratitude.
That said–– any hope for an M14-type mag? Not like you don't have enough on your plate . . . but had to ask.
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Quoted:
You should invite the Discovery Channel over and make an episode of "How it's Made". I'd really love to see that one. They have contacted us and we are trying to work out the details. Larry [cartman voice] KICCCCCCCCCCCCCKKK ASSSSSSSSSSSSSS [/cartman voice] 
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Why are any of the bodies hand-welded? It has to be slower than robotic and requires and extra finishing step. Just curious.
I have welders who can weld 1,200-1,400 magazines by hand in an 8 hour shift. That was always the norm and the use of fixtures. C Products as far as I know, is the only manufacturer to weld robotically. We have 2 cells and 3 more on order. But we are the only manufacturer whose main business is manufacturing magazines. That's what we do. Larry |
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