Lot of castings

[Tod]

I had a great run to my iron foundry this afternoon to take pictures of yesterday's pour of iron castings. 5 B heads, 2 Winfield heads, and 1 block were among things they poured. Things looked great as far as can be seen prior to heading to the cleaning room and shot blast. Tomorrow we pour an aluminum 5 main block.



Slated to be poured next are iron Thomas and another dozen Winfield heads and an iron OHV head. Another 3 main iron block will also be in the mix. Maybe more.



Tod

[Lawrie]

Pics
Lawrie

[Tod]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

Pics
Lawrie

I'll post pics when they are cleaned up and shot blasted. Covered with sand and hard to see quality in a picture.


Tod

[Tod]

Pics of the first aluminum B head I took time to program and cut this afternoon.


Tod

[daveymc29]

great to hear Tod.

[CWPASADENA]

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GREAT NEWS


Thanks for the update.


Chris W

[updraught]

What's the "iron OHV head"?

[Bruce of MN]

I’m not a machinist, but what is the starting point for the first cut?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by updraught

What's the "iron OHV head"?

That would be an iron Overhead Valve cylinder head. We are machining the first casting I made in aluminum as a test so we can develop the rocker assembly. So far, things look great. Hope to have it on an engine in a few weeks, if time allows.


Tod

[Tod]

Originally Posted by Bruce of MN

I’m not a machinist, but what is the starting point for the first cut?

The first cut is not as relevant as setting the block casting in the fixture, and having that all designed for machining. Since I CNC machine everything from an X/Y/Z offset location that I choose, I could cut anything I choose first as long as it is in a machinable plane. Right now, I machine blocks in my Toyoda horizontal machining center (I have 2 more HMC's besides the Toyoda). It uses stout CAT 50 tooling. I design and make all my own fixturing aiming at the most heavy and rigid holding that I can manage. I write my programs based on dimensions taken from the X/Y/Z zero location. Once I hit "start," the machine does its thing while I go work on other things. Right now, that is working on models of my own cylinder heads, customer cylinder heads (I am designing a Pontiac head right now for someone), and the making of foundry tooling for several customers. While it may sound impressive, it is really all very simple.



Tod

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by Tod

While it may sound impressive, it is really all very simple.


Tod

Tod - you are way too humble. You know a lot of specialized knowledge, have a lot of specialized equipment, and the drive to do things the right way. Not many people can do what you do. You deserve a lot of respect.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

Tod - you are way too humble. You know a lot of specialized knowledge, have a lot of specialized equipment, and the drive to do things the right way. Not many people can do what you do. You deserve a lot of respect.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I also believe it overestimates what I am doing.


Anyway, yesterday the first aluminum 5 main was poured using a different method of pouring that I changed to after the first several castings. It is basically reverting back to my original plan after my first iron foundry talked me into doing it their way. Their change produced decent results but not great results. I should have stayed with my experience. Latest results from trusting my past look better during pouring. Of course, I have to wait on this aluminum block until it is shaken out to see how it came out. I am a little anxious because I think the metal should have been poured at a higher temperature. It filled fine but it seemed to cool quickly in the vents and pop-offs. We did set it up outside the foundry door due to so many molds inside and it was around 40 degrees outside so that cool air may have played a part in that. I will know today how it came out. Fingers crossed!!!!


Tod