Thursday 17th February 2011

Video: V8 Milled From Aluminium Block

US machine shop shows us how it's done

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Before...

How often can you say the words 'billet aloominum block' in 7mins 51secs? A lot, but that's not the primary reason for sharing this video from Kirkham Motorsports.

No Sirree, it's all about the love of aluminium and engineering. The video takes you through the stages of milling a 427 engine from the aforementioned 'aloominum' casting.

Amazing what can be achieved on YouTube, and all without a PR company in sight.

(And then via the 'related video' links we saw this. Careful as you watch it mind, it could have an eye out...)

 

 

[Richard-G]

incredible, really enjoyed watching that! "things they can do with modern technology eh "

[iain1970]

It's a times like this as I watch vid's like this that I realise my CAD/CAM HND is wasted because I work in Accounts and HR.

[jake15919]

I want one of those shredders. I've got nothing in particular to get rid of but I would have endless fun experimenting.

[markh1]

What happens to all the swarf? Does it get collected and melted into another block?

[Oddball RS]

I'm sure the swarf gets re-used especially these days due to cost etc.

I love seeing it made, its a work of art, however i have a question............

I assume it is to replace an iron block on an existing engine? if its not why go to all that trouble to build a push rod unit?

[Ex Boy Racer]

I wonder what the teeth on that shredder are made of being able to shatter engine blocks while staying pristine themselves?

[shakotan]

Bear in mind as you keep amusingly refering to 'aloominum', that it is the original and quite correct pronunciation of the element.

[Mr Sparkle]

Jesus that bock shredder is one terrifying thing.

[UnluckyTimmeh]

I will be having nightmares about falling into that thing

[wolves_wanderer]

When I was between jobs a year or so ago I worked as a driver for a company supplying aluminium, steel etc to small engineering companies. Occasionally I went to cool places like McLaren, Williams and Force India but I always loved just walking through the places I was delivering to - seeing the precision that they employed turning lumps of metal into things of beauty.

[boolay]

markh1 said:

What happens to all the swarf? Does it get collected and melted into another block?

Bag it up and sell it to mr scrap man!

Oh to have 10000rpm available. Our Bridgeports max out at 6k

[hombrepaulo]

shakotan said:

Bear in mind as you keep amusingly refering to 'aloominum', that it is the original and quite correct pronunciation of the element.

Meh - Aluminium sounds better

[GnuBee]

boolay said:

markh1 said:

What happens to all the swarf? Does it get collected and melted into another block?

Bag it up and sell it to mr scrap man!

Oh to have 10000rpm available. Our Bridgeports max out at 6k

Oh to have 10000rpm available. My machine starts at 12.5k :-o

[Pixel Pusher]

markh1 said:

What happens to all the swarf?

It becomes Jeremy Clarkson's hair.

Great vids, that shredder is vicious.

[Digga]

I think the PH elves cocked up - I'd commented on the staory at the same time of the OP and thjere's a duplicate thread.

Anyway....

Never seen that done before; billet to block. Pretty impressive. Ali chips will most certainly be collected and recycled.

<engineering nerd>
Having said that Haas CNC machine tools are okay, but we use Mazak: http://www.digbits.co.uk/Engineering_Plant_List.ht...

And so do McLaren Mercedes: http://www.mazak.eu/jkcm/default.aspx?pg=249
</engineering nerd>

[TonyHetherington]

shakotan said:

Bear in mind as you keep amusingly refering to 'aloominum', that it is the original and quite correct pronunciation of the element.

The original was "alumium", but I don't hear you referring to that. It was then changed, by the guy who discovered it, to "aluminum". Then that same guy only a few years later changed it to "aluminium".

So, have the original or the most recent by the guy that discovered it. Neither of which is "aluminum".

[rob.e]

Why do I love watching that shredder so much - very satisfying!

[maybe its a torque thing?]

[shakotan]

TonyHetherington said:

The original was "alumium", but I don't hear you referring to that. It was then changed, by the guy who discovered it, to "aluminum". Then that same guy only a few years later changed it to "aluminium".

So, have the original or the most recent by the guy that discovered it. Neither of which is "aluminum".

Almost, Davy never proposed Aluminium, it was the Quarterly Review who reviewed Davy's work who objected to Aluminum and decides to call it Aluminium.

Davy changed it Aluminum, after originally using Alumium. So the correct spelling as per the discoverer is Aluminum.

However, both are widely acceptable.

Edited by shakotan on Thursday 17th February 10:46

[DonkeyApple]

Ex Boy Racer said:

I wonder what the teeth on that shredder are made of being able to shatter engine blocks while staying pristine themselves?

They're probably coated with a layer of woman's scorn to be able to destroy something so easily/

[V88Dicky]

Oddball RS said:

Why go to all that trouble to build a push rod unit?

'One Camshaft to Rule Them All!'?

Pushrod V8s tend to be simpler and lighter than their OHC counterparts. Arguably more reliable too, and the Americans like that.