The present disclosure relates to texturing metal surfaces.
Many metal products feature smooth surfaces. However, this smoothness may be undesirable; for example when a surface is intended for gripping by a hand. Accordingly, to improve the gripping of metal surfaces, textured surfaces may be present on the metal product; improved systems and methods for texturing of metal surfaces remain desirable.
The present disclosure provides methods for texturing a metal surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for texturing a firearm slide comprises forming a recess in a first surface on the firearm slide, coupling a mask to the firearm slide to cover portions of the firearm slide beyond the recess, applying a material to the recess via a thermal spray process to form a textured surface in the recess, and uncoupling the mask from the firearm slide.
The contents of this summary section are intended as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limit the scope of any claim.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein:
FIGS, 3A and 3B illustrate a method for texturing a firearm slide by adding media, in accordance with various embodiments;
All ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined. It is to be understood that unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” may include one or more than one and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural.
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and its best mode, and not of limitation. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Moreover, many of the functions or steps may be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected and/or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.
As used herein, “aft” refers to the direction associated with the back end of a firearm, or generally, to the direction of recoil when a firearm discharges a projectile. As used herein, “forward” refers to the direction associated with the muzzle, or front end, of a firearm, or generally, to the direction a projectile travels when discharged from the firearm.
With reference now to
In various embodiments, firearm slide 100 comprises one or more textured surfaces 130. Textured surfaces 130 may be on first slide side 105, second slide side 145, slide top side 110, and/or any other suitable surface or side on firearm slide 100. Firearm slide 100 comprises one or more aft textured surfaces 132 on first slide side 105 and/or second slide side 145. As used herein, aft textured surface 132 may be a textured surface 130 disposed aft of ejection port 140. Firearm slide 100 comprises one or more forward textured surfaces 134. As used herein, forward textured surface 134 may be a textured surface 130 disposed forward of ejection port 140. Textured surfaces 130 may be disposed at the same point along reference axis 150 as ejection port 140. In this regard, textured surfaces may be symmetrically or non-symmetrically disposed on either of first slide side 105 and/or second slide side 145. First slide side 105 comprises the same number of textured surfaces 130 as second slide side 145, or first slide side 105 comprises more or fewer textured surfaces 130 than second slide side 145.
In various embodiments, textured surfaces 130 are recessed from the surface on which they are disposed, For example, textured surfaces 130 may be recessed from first slide side 105 such that the surface of first slide side 105 protrudes radially from reference axis 150 farther than textured surfaces 130. Moreover, textured surfaces 130 may be flush with transition surface 127 and/or slide top side 110. In various embodiments, textured surfaces 130 comprises texturing accomplished through the removal of material comprising firearm slide 100, and/or a material or materials may be applied to the firearm slide 100 to create textured surfaces 130.
With reference now to
A media may be applied to the first ceramic coating (step 206). The media may be any suitable material comprising particles that will provide a textured surface in response to being applied to the first surface and/or the first ceramic coating. For example, the media may comprise aluminum oxide particles, glass beads, a combination of aluminum oxide particles and glass beads, and/or the like. In various embodiments, the media may comprise a larger percentage of aluminum oxide particles in order to create a less coarse textured metal surface. Conversely, the media may comprise a larger percentage of glass beads to create a coarser textured metal surface. Additionally, the level of coarseness of the textured surface may at least partially be determined by the depth of the recess that may be formed in the metal surface. In response to a greater depth of the recess, the textured surface may be coarser and the media may comprise an increased percentage of glass beads and a decreased percentage of aluminum oxide particles. Conversely, in response to a smaller depth of the recess, the textured surface may be less coarse, and the media may comprise an increased percentage of aluminum oxide and a decreased percentage of glass beads. The coarseness of the texture may be similar to the grit in sand paper. In this regard, the coarseness or roughness may range from approximately 10 grit (e.g., average media particle diameter of approximately 1800 μm) to approximately 600 grit (e.g., average media particle diameter of approximately 25.8 μm) depending on the amounts of media applied to the firearm slide.
In various embodiments, the media may be covered by a mask (step 208). The mask may be an adhesive mask or other suitable mask. The metal surface comprising the first ceramic coating and media may be heat treated for an interim duration (step 210), which may be approximately ten minutes (more generally, between about 9 minutes and about 11 minutes). The metal surface may be heat treated for the interim duration at a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit (more generally, between about 270 degrees Fahrenheit and about 330 degrees Fahrenheit). The mask may be removed from the media. A second ceramic coating may be disposed on the media (step 212). The second ceramic coating may be the same material as the first ceramic coating, or any other suitable material. The metal surface may be heat treated for an end duration (step 214). The heat treating for the end duration may take place after the heat treating for an interim duration. The heat treating for an end duration may be for approximately one hour (more generally, between about 55 minutes and about 65 minutes) or any other suitable length of time, at a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit (more generally, between about 270 degrees Fahrenheit and about 330 degrees Fahrenheit).
With reference now to
In various embodiments, the first media may be covered by a first mask (step 308), The mask may be an adhesive mask or other suitable mask. The first surface comprising the first ceramic coating and media may be heat treated for an interim duration (step 310), which may be approximately t10 minutes (more generally, between about 9 minutes and about 11 minutes). Firearm slide 100 may be heat treated for the interim duration at a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit (more generally, between about 270 degrees Fahrenheit and about 330 degrees Fahrenheit). The first mask may be removed from the media. A second ceramic coating may be disposed onto the first media (step 312). The second ceramic coating may be the same material as the first ceramic coating, or any other suitable material. Firearm slide 100 may be heat treated for an end duration (step 314). The heat treating for the end duration may take place after the heat treating for an interim duration. The heat treating for an end duration may be for approximately one hour (more generally, between about 55 minutes and about 65 minutes) or any other suitable length of time, at a temperature of approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit (more generally, between about 270 degrees Fahrenheit and about 330 degrees Fahrenheit).
In various embodiments, method 300 for texturing a firearm slide may further comprise steps depicted in
In various embodiments, the steps of method 300 may be performed on any side of firearm slide 100. In various embodiments, steps 302-308 and/or steps 320-326 may take place before step 310 in method 300. Steps 312 and/or 328 may take place after step 310 and/or before step 314 in method 300.
With reference now to
With reference now to
In various embodiments, methods similar to those described that make uses of other metal removal processes, such as any suitable metal etching process are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.
This disclosure is described in terms of a firearm slide 100 suitable for a semiautomatic and/or automatic pistol, as depicted in
With reference now to
With reference now to
In various exemplary embodiments wherein a pistol slide is being textured, the thermal spray process may deposit molten droplets of stainless steel, for example 400 series stainless steel. Other suitable material or materials may be deposited via thermal spray, for example aluminum, zinc, bronze, low carbon steel, molybdenum, nickel alloys, and/or the like. Moreover, multiple layers or coats of thermal spray material may be deposited, and the multiple layers may be of the same or of differing materials.
In various exemplary embodiments, a thermal spray process may be manipulated to cause the surface to achieve a desired roughness. For example, a droplet size, nozzle movement speed, deposition material feed rate, deposition temperature, feed material, and/or the like may be selected and/or controlled to achieve a desired roughness.
Once the thermal spray process is complete, the mask or masks may be removed, leaving the desired textured surface behind (step 626). Thereafter, if desired, a portion or portions of the metal surface may be coated with a material such as a ceramic material (step 628). The coating material may be a firearm coating, for example a ceramic coating sold under the Cerakote® brand, a spray firearm coating sold under the DuraCoat® brand, paint, and/or other suitable coatings or adhesives.
With reference now to
For example, in an exemplary embodiment, thermal spray is deposited into a recessed, unmasked portion of a firearm slide in order to create an area of roughened texture that is permanently bonded to the substrate; the resulting increase in surface area and texture greatly increases the coefficient of friction in the treated area. The deposited material may remain within the recessed area, and as such may remain below the main surface of the firearm slide. This ensures that the textured surface only interacts with objects placed within the recessed portion (for example, a finger or portion of a hand), and not with objects designed to contain the firearm slide (for example, a holster, firearm case, or the like).
In contrast to prior approaches for texturing a firearm slide, exemplary thermal spray processes offer significantly improved speed of deposition. Moreover, exemplary thermal spray processes offer improved anti-corrosive properties of the resulting textured area, depending on the deposited material (e.g., stainless steel). Yet further, exemplary thermal spray processes result in deposition of load bearing material with similar material structure and tensile strength as the target substrate, resulting in increased strength and durability of the treated part. Additionally, the resulting textured surfaces offer improved durability and wear resistance.
It will be appreciated that, in connection with texturing a firearm slide, a first portion of the slide may be textured with a first textured surface, and a second portion of the slide may be textured with a second textured surface having at least one characteristic different from the first textured surface, for example a greater or lesser surface roughness, depth or thickness of textured material, size of textured area, and/or the like. In this manner, a particular part (for example, a firearm slide) can be formed to accommodate and/or facilitate various handling techniques or systems. For example, a particular firearm slide may be textured in a manner to facilitate “press checks”, “over hand slide manipulation”, “under hand slide manipulation”, use of a barrier to manipulate the slide, and so forth.
Additionally, in various exemplary embodiments, one or more methods or processes disclosed herein may be utilized in combination with one another. For example, a particular firearm slide 100 may be textured via texturing method 600. Thereafter, one or more steps of method 500 may be applied to firearm slide 100, for example to textured surface 130, in order to further modify and/or control a desired level of roughness, a surface texture or pattern, and/or the like.
Exemplary systems and methods are provided. In the detailed description herein, references to “various embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.
No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 15/384,452 filed on Dec. 20, 2016 and entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TEXTURING METAL”, U.S. Ser. No. 15/384,452 claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/270,434 filed on Dec. 21, 2015 and entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TEXTURING METAL”. Each of the foregoing applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62270434 | Dec 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 15384452 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 15785700 | US |