V8 engine block machined from solid aluminium

[Gyrus]

When the block is rotating and same time the drill is doing something to cylinder is it hone? (hone = don't know the exact word, but I mean cylinder finishing?)

[stmoritzer]

interesting video :wink:

[graywolf624]

Seems a biit of a waste.. Why not just cast the sucker like gm?

[Gyrus]

seems that the block was'nt the only thing that they made h ttp://w ww.nts-co.jp/topics/index.htm

[dutchmasterflex]

This is like porno for robots..

[ae86_16v]

This is like porno for robots..

:lol:

It is always interesting to see videos like this. Thanks for the link!

[graywolf624]

I'm certainly not a metalurgist but it would be my assumption that a cast would be stronger since you don't risk braking up the crystaline structure. A good example of this are cross drilled rotors. If you could cast them in theyd be less likely to break, but if you drill them you break off pieces of the crystaline molecular structure at the edges, which weakens the structure.

[nthfinity]

I'm certainly not a metalurgist but it would be my assumption that a cast would be stronger since you don't risk braking up the crystaline structure. A good example of this are cross drilled rotors. If you could cast them in theyd be less likely to break, but if you drill them you break off pieces of the crystaline molecular structure at the edges, which weakens the structure.

machining is ALWAYS more precise then casting. a Billet machined block will always be stronger. Casting leaves errors in the metal, such as flash, splay, gate, and surface issues.

[rave426]

^^^^^Took the words right out of my mouth Nth.....

I pack-mold casted an aluminum part in one of my classes, and trust me it doesnt come out to pretty when it cools. Of course a large company would have more precise processes, but the end result still calls for a lot of finish and polish machining.

I have made a part using a CNC machine similar to the one in the video. Those things are damn awesome. All you do is input the data (X,Y,Z axis cords) for the machine to follow and on it goes!!!!

[nthfinity]

I'm certainly not a metalurgist but it would be my assumption that a cast would be stronger since you don't risk braking up the crystaline structure. A good example of this are cross drilled rotors. If you could cast them in theyd be less likely to break, but if you drill them you break off pieces of the crystaline molecular structure at the edges, which weakens the structure.

good point :D I don't want a CNC'd motor anymore

billet + machined is much more expensive, and precise. There are reasons why drag racing motors are not cast.

also, Aluminum cannot be directly compared vs. steel here, so the rotor argument doesn't work so well ;)

[graywolf624]

I stand corrrected.. After a search plus what is said here, the bonding process of Iron is different from alluminum

[TopGearNL]

Very cool! Very interesting and nice to see, the attention to detail must be precise!

LOL I don't think it will be as accurate with a Dremel :lol:

[number77]

I hope you understand this isn't a rare issue.
Some kids at a college here in the US...albeit from a rich school, that had alot of "help" from grad students and PhD professors machine a 600cc v8 from aluminum.

[antonioledesma]

even when you cast, you'll need to machine the result to leave it smooth and ready. The casting process leaves many errors just like Nth said.
Casting is less expensive than machining. It could be achieved almost the same mechanical results with different alloys and materials.
Also with casting you can have the process done, and then have a thermal treatment. with milling/machining, you need to do the thermal treatment and then machine.

To make it shorter, it all depends on your costs and machinery.
of course I also would make wonders with a 5 axis milling machine

EDIT:

looking the video right now. It seems to be a promotional video to show the capabilities of the machie. I think they used alluminum to do it quickly and easily.