Improved functionality and reliability in ~ 4 months
Client – Sharps Rifle Company – a producer of AR-15 carbine rifles and components
Expertise Applied
- Material Analysis
- Design For Manufacture
- Mechanical Design
- Ruggedization
- Rapid Iterative Development Cycles: Build-Test-Learn
- Prototype Development
- Manufacturing Handoff
Problem
Sharps Rifle Company is a producer of AR-15 carbine rifles and components that works to improve on existing components. The client came up with an idea to improve a complex component which had been in use for decades. The idea was to take the bolt and modify the bolt lug geometry in a way that would reduce jamming without reducing lug strength.
Solution
SGW Designworks stepped in to help produce a proof-of-concept for a new bolt design that would improve functionality and reliability in AR-15 carbine rifles.
Results / Outcomes
- Multiple prototype and testing cycles led to the optimal design and feature set
Overview
The Improved Bolt System project focused on the development of a new bolt design that improves reliability in AR-15 carbine rifles by reducing the likelihood of jams from bolt lug/extension lug strikes. The project included intensive finite element analysis, material research, and geometry iteration. A metallurgical analysis was also used in the development of the Improved Bolt System.
SGW Designworks has extensive experience working with small arms and defense systems for sportsmen, military, and security applications. You can read more about it on our blog.
| Hardware Developed | Technologies Leveraged |
|---|---|
| Jam resistant lug geometry | Solidworks 3D CAD |
| Material spec and heat treatment spec | Finite element analysis |
| Revised geometry with no load carrying loss | Various metallurgy tools |