Designing Small Weapons

Book excerpt: This book focuses on developing small weapons, following the lifecycle of a firearm from design to manufacture. It demonstrates how modern technologies can be used at every stage of the process, such as design methodologies, CAD/CAE/CAM software, rapid prototyping, test benches, materials, heat and surface treatments, and manufacturing processes. Several case studies are presented to provide detailed considerations on developing specific topics. Small weapons are designed to be carried by one person; examples are pistols, revolvers, rifles, carbines, shotguns, and submachine guns. Beginning with a review of the history of weapons from ancient to modern times, this book builds on this by mapping out recent innovations and state-of-the-art technologies that have advanced small weapon design. Presenting a comprehensive guide to computer design tools used by weapon engineers, this book demonstrates the capabilities of modern software at all stages of the process, looking at the computer-aided design, engineering, and manufacturing. It also details the materials used to create small weapons, notably steels, engineering polymers, composites, and emerging materials. Manufacturing processes, both conventional and unconventional, are discussed, for example, casting, powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, and heat and surface treatments. This book is essential reading to those in the field of weapons, such as designers, workers in research and development, engineering and design students, students at military colleges, sportsmen, hunters, and those interested in firearms. Dr. Jose Martin Herrera-Ramirez is a military engineer with experience in the field of weapon and ammunition development. After receiving his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the Paris School of Mines in France, he was the head of the Applied Research Center and Technology Development for the Mexican Military Industry (CIADTIM). He now researches the development of metallic alloys and composites at the Research Center for Advanced Materials (CIMAV) in Chihuahua, Mexico. Dr. Luis Adrian Zuñiga-Aviles is a military engineer with wide experience in the field of weapon and ammunition development. He was head of the prototypes and simulation departments at the Applied Research Center and Technology Development for the Mexican Military Industry (CIADTIM) and head of engineering of the Production directorate. He received his PhD in Science and Technology on Mechatronics from the Center for Engineering and Industrial Development (CIDESI) in Queretaro, Mexico. He now researches the new product design and development for military application, machinery, robotics, and medical devices in the Faculty of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMex) and the Faculty of Engineering at UAEMex as part of the Researchers for Mexico program CONACYT.