Originally Posted by
Adam Baker
Im not really sure where to post this, Im hoping this is ok. I generally spend my time in the Bench Top forum, but didnt think this was a topic that would fit in there.
Ok, Im planning on machining an aluminum barrel for a 1/35 scale model for a friend of mine, for a German WW2 railway gun (Dora/Gustav). The real thing had rifling in the barrel, and the barrel is large enough that the rifling would be visible on the scale part. The interior diameter of the barrel will be about 22.85mm/.899 inches in diameter.
Im wanting to add rifling to the completed barrel, but Im not sure exactly how to pull it off, and looking for suggestions. Im assuming that what ever would be used would be something similar in design as a standard threading tap. I dont have a problem making something, if it comes down to it, Im just not sure what to use for the cutter, how to design it, and how to go about using it.
To actually cut the rifling, Im assuming I could just the same lathe that Im going to use to cut the interior and exterior, and just turn the lathe at a very low RPM and let the rifling cutter draw its way into the barrel.
Anyone have any tips or suggestions? The barrel will be turned using aluminum bar stock, so the metal wont be too hard, but Im sure I will still need something w/ some strength to it, so that it will cut the rifling w/o deforming.