Army tank welds

[SignWave]

Well, I was watching some show called incredible machines and they did a peice on military tanks. Im not much of a military buff so the name of the tank eludes me. Suffice it to say that it is the US military's cats ***, top of the heap tank and it has over a half ton of weldments in its construction.. thats like a 100 miles of weld or something dumb like that...

Todays peice of useless information- no charge.

[Goodhand]

Well, I was watching some show called incredible machines and they did a peice on military tanks. Im not much of a military buff so the name of the tank eludes me. Suffice it to say that it is the US military's cats ***, top of the heap tank and it has over a half ton of weldments in its construction.. thats like a 100 miles of weld or something dumb like that...

Todays peice of useless information- no charge.

Cat's what????

[harcosparky]

Cat's what????

I bet he meant 'azz'.

You know it's the 'cats azz'

[welder_one]

that sir, would be the M-1 Abrahms

[HMW]

M1, top of the heap when it comes to main battle tanks. Marines and Army both use it. That was a cool show that showed them rebuilding them, Like new when done and saves a ton of money

[SignWave]

that sir, would be the M-1 Abrahms

Thats the one. It hit me whilst laying in bed this morning. Errr no tthe tank, just its name... hehehehe. In some places the steel is a foot thick. How in blazes would you cut through that? I think that my trusty hatchet is outmatched...

[SignWave]

I think that some tanks are also covered in D/U (depleted Uranium). Its really nasty stuff , but when they are hit by gun fire, W.H.Y. the energy is absorbed and dissipated. I saw some army training film on how the repair battle damaged D/U armor. Nasty,Nasty stuff.

Do a YouTube search on D/U. Not sure you'll like what you see though...kinda shook me a bit.

[SignWave]

Cat's what????

This interpretive photograph should lend a helping hand...

Hahahahahahahahaaa!!!!

I think i might get booted from the sight.... Hahahahahahaa!!!

[paulrbrown]

Man, I thought that photo was a Locomotive's Headlight coming out of a tunnel......I believe they make the Abrams in Lima Ohio, I used to see them being freighted by Rail when I lived in Cleveland in the 80's. Paul

[welder_one]

the armor plating is several layers thick. thinner layers to make one big layer. there is even aluminum in the layers. they use friction stir welding to weld the skirting and now setting up machines to weld the frames now. even researching making trailers with it. i saw a link to a video with friction welding, if i can find it again, i will post it.

[welder_one]

here is that link. it is a little scary though. so watch in dismay as they find another machine to replace the common working man

http://www.ctc.com/learnaboutctc/FSW_proj.cfm

[SignWave]

The last time I saw anything on Friction welding was about ten years ago at least. One of the aircraft manufacturers(boeing??) was putting it to use in the contruciton of 747's. They were smearing large sheets of aluminum together in order to make wing sheathing and fuselage sheathing. I thought it was pretty cool how they could join two sheets without using any heat.

[HMW]

Awesome link welder_one. I see the Marines new amtrac is welded with that process, really cool, thanks

[Anti-GMAW]

It's also used to weld the frame of the Ford GT 500. Why's depleted urainium so nasty?

[AnotherDano]

It's also used to weld the frame of the Ford GT 500. Why's depleted urainium so nasty?

Good question. I think it's because of the word radioactive.
Uranium is a naturally occuring substance. Outside of Golden Colorado are hillsides that show the marks of the old uranium mines that have been played out and (purposely) collapsed.

The tailings are still there.

DU is only 60% as 'radioactive' as those tailings. They don't call it 'depleted' for no treason. People hike and walk their dogs over uranium every day.