Machining Technology for Performance Racing

Centroid designs and manufactures five-axis CNC machining centers for cylinder head porting and four-axis machines for engine block machining and rebuilding. Its A560 five-axis machine features a ballscrew-drive articulating head designed specifically for CNC cylinder head porting, providing 60 degrees of B-axis tilt in each direction (120 degrees total) so the tool can cut even the most radical ports.

Centroid also has recently developed the DP-7 solid-state machine tool probe as an alternative to conventional conductive and mechanical switch-type versions. This probe provides uniform triggering in all axes and is said to be particularly effective in delivering high measurement accuracy when using a long stylus to reach deep inside parts. It can be used with a variety of machine tool brands.

Sunnen unveiled a prototype version of its SV-20 cylinder honing machine at last year’s PRI Show. This year, it featured the production version. The SV-20 uses a linear vertical servo stroker motor for true vertical stroke and consistent crosshatch pattern throughout a bore.

As at past shows, Sunnen hosted its Engine Charity Sweepstakes booth in Machinery Row. All ticket proceeds went to the Victory Junction Gang Camp charity, a race-themed camp for children with chronic illnesses that was started by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son, Adam. This year’s prize was a beast of a racing engine from Reher-Morrison.

Mazak featured four machine tools at the PRI Show: a Nexus VMC, a Quick Turn Nexus 200-II MY turning center, a four-axis Variaxis j-500 and an Integrex i-200 multitasking machine. The four-axis Variaxis was shown machining a racecar suspension component.

Here’s a better look at one of the suspension components completed on Mazak’s Variaxis j-500 during the show.

Miller Electric let attendees try their hand at TIG and MIG welding during the show with experts on hand to offer guidance.

Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems is now a division of Lincoln Electric. Its Growth series of CNC plasma cutters has three table sizes (2’ x 2’, 2’ x 4’ and 4’ x 4’). Adding an optional water table cutting bed greatly helps reduce the amount of dust and smoke in a shop during operation.

Dynabrade, manufacturer of industrial abrasive power tools for grinding, deburring, sanding and polishing applications, displayed two new bench/pedestal belt grinders. The three-wheel version shown here uses a 2-inch-wide belt and enables grinding from the contact wheel as well as sanding or finishing from the slack of the belt.

Star CNC was the only machine tool builder to display a Swiss-type lathe at the PRI Show. Its SR-20RIII uses the company’s “Star motion control” technology to minimize a selected tool path and optimize the timing for processing M and S codes.

Trumpf used its versatile TruMark laser marking system to create souvenirs for attendees, including 2013 calendars on flat aluminum sheet and personalized plastic pens.

Probing capability on Rottler’s P69 five-axis cylinder head digitizing and porting machine is said to enable users to digitize and duplicate a port in just 30 minutes.

Rottler’s unique dimpling pattern capability within its software creates golf-ball-like dimples in key areas of a port to reduce surface area and drag of air across a port. In tests of identical cylinder heads bolted to the same engine, the dimpled ports were said to increase horsepower by 1.5 to 2 percent versus non-dimpled heads.

The Start2 shrink fit system from Lyndex-Nikken is a compact unit designed for ease of use. It cools tools in less than 2 minutes (on average) using standard shop air.

In addition to handheld grinding and deburring tools, Air Turbine Technology displayed its line of high speed, air-turbine spindles designed for drill/tap machines. Versions are available to provide constant governed speeds ranging from 30,000 to 75,000 rpm for engraving, marking, milling and drilling using small-diameter cutters.

Doosan highlighted the advantages of advanced turning capabilities with its Puma 2600SY model that offers both Y-axis movement and a subspindle.

My wife doesn’t like me going to the PRI Show because I come home with lots of (expensive) ideas for what I can add to boost the performance of my ’55 Chevy…