On Monday, June 8, 2020 at 3:30:08 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Monday, June 8, 2020 at 1:14:41 PM UTC-6, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
Soooo....."no welding allowed"......how do they make the ring? Just asking......usually round "wire/rod", bent, welded together.....
Shrug....

Forging a ring involves bending the stock in a circle with varying amounts of overlap- sometimes one or more full circles, but more often a lap of about 1/3 the circumference. Then it is heated to a bright, glowing temperature and beaten into the final shape. Hardening is sometimes done by quenching in oil. Linked rings are made by forging the first ring and looping the second though it and forging by the same method.

I am just speculating here but two interlocking rings could be easily made as an investment casting (lost wax casting). Given that it is a Cr-Va alloy, the raw cast product can be heat treated and quenched in oil, which would explain the blackened appearance when new.
I will see if I can get my hands on a discarded pair and have our metallurgists take a look at.

Uli
'AS'