460 Block pictures

[IHCNC]

Hi folks;
Since we have removed the link for the pictures of Stan boring his Ford Big Block 460 we are putting the post and pictures that Stan sent us on a new thread. Here is the post and pictures. For those of you that have not seen them yet enjoy. The original post is below this thread to read them or add a new post to this thread.

Hi Folks;
We receive literally 100's of pictures every month of projects done on an IH CNC Mill or Manual Mill. As racers that build our own motors I was really impressed with these pics, so here they are.
If anyone is doing a project and would like to show it on the CNC Zone please go ahead and post it on this thread. If you don't know how to do it just Email us with the pics and we will put them up for you.

Stan's Email to IH

Hi Gene,
I wanted to drop you a note to tell you that I have been very happy with my IH mill since I received it earlier this spring. I also thought you might be interested in the attached pictures, since some of your advertising emphasizes how big the mill is. That is a big block 460 engine that I am rebuilding. I am in the process of boring out the cylinders so I can install oversize pistons and rings. A local automotive machine shop could have done it for me, but as you can see, the IH mill is big enough to let me do it myself. I would not have been able to do that on any of the other square column mills that are available.
Thanks for offering such a great product. I hope to be able to upgrade to one of your DRO and Power Feed combinations in the future.
Best Regards,
Stan

[mc-motorsports]

How much travel does that mill have on the Z axis or quill?

[jalessi]

Spindle/Quill Travel: 4.75"

Spindle to Table (Min, Quill Retracted): 3"

Spindle to Table (Max, Quill Retracted): 22.25"

[mc-motorsports]

And how is that enough to bore a BBF? Or are this just pictures intended to show the bed can hold a BB? You would need around 8" of travel to bore the cylinder, hence the reason engine shops use machines called "boring bars", not the tool, the name of the machine, such as made by Rotler. You can rebuild a cylinder head using a BP mill, valve seats, guides and even surfacing and I know a couple of shops that stricly use BP mills and don't waste the money on the specialty machines. If it was possible to bore a block with 4.75" of travel, we all would. That is barely enough for most motorcycles.

Not trying to stir drama, just questioning the legitimacy of the photo's. I'm not doubting that the block is mounted to the machine, or inciting photochopping, just saying that the operation is not possible with 4.75" of travel, if it was, I would be boring my own blocks.

[jalessi]

MC-Motorsports,

It seems as though the Industrial Hobbies mill could bore a BB Ford.
Between the tooling and the spindle it should be able to reach the bottom of the bore no problem.

For sure you would not be able to do it with just the quill travel however if you lowered the head after extending the quill then boring and then lowered the head again then extend the quill etc...

As you have suggested I believe it could not be accomplished in one fluid motion.

Some pictures and comments on the finished operation from whomever is using the machine for this operation would be awesome.

Jeff...

[EvanVH]

The IH mill has 20 inches of z travel with out using the quil. I don't see a problem with boring a big block ford.




Evan

[IHCNC]

jalessi;
You have it right. The answer to that question is on the next thread and the pictures are real and untouched. Stan and others have since done really neat projects with the 12Z Manual and IH CNC Mill.

[philbur]

I'm no expert but I do have experience of attempting something similar so I see problems with resetting the head to achieve the full boring depth.

How do you restart the spindle with the cutting tool already engaged against the bore wall without cutting an over sized groove.

How do you relock the head after lowering and maintain the spindle axial horizontal location within a tenth of a thou.

Without power down feed the surface finish is going to be very uneven.

All the pictures show is that the head fits on the table. I'm sceptical until I see the process in action and a close-up of the finished result.

Phil

jalessi;
You have it right. The answer to that question is on the next thread and the pictures are real and untouched. Stan and others have since done really neat projects with the 12Z Manual and IH CNC Mill.

[jalessi]

Phil,

The quill could be locked in the down position and the head lowered with the vertical (z-axis) hand crank for the entire operation.

It would bore the block, the finish you are talking about is highly doubtful though.

Jeff...

[pete from TN]

I have had occasion to bore some deepish holes with my RF45 Lathemaster mill and while I was able to use the power downfeed of the Z axis it was less than ideal. No doubt it would bore the hole but what would the finish look like when you were done with it. I use my boring head all the time and it looks exactly like the one in the pics. Sometimes I get great results and sometimes not but it could be done this way. I would probably just tighten up the gibs on the Z pretty snug and use the manual handle to run it up and down. That would be the best way using these machines. The quill while finer in its control neither has enough throw nor would I trust it in its accuracy. In fact on my Lathemaster mill cnc conversion I am actually going to disable the quill and rely solely on the Z axis for movement. Much more rigid and lets face it the vast majority of cnc mills have no such quill on them. Just a rigid spindle and lots of z movement to make up for it.

It is impressive as hell tho that the machine not only can fit the motor on it's large table but actually has the room to accept the custom made mounts for it. I would love to see someone actually boring a big block on video with the machine. My honest opinion is that while it is possible I would probably not chance it on such a project for the simple fact that if you screw it up you are out an entire engine block. Best left to a real boring machine and the pros. They do not really charge that much for it anyway. Now a small two stroke engine, a lawnmower engine, possibly a motorcycle engine maybe? I would love to see someone doing a cylinder head rebuild on a benchtop mill. that would be very interesting to see how it is done.... peace

[pete from TN]

If that machine did make those beautiful holes, where is all the swarf? machine looks pretty clean? Did they hose it all off to take the picture? Peace

[oltimer]

philbur
your showing how really smart you are again by calling a motor block a head. do us all a favor and keep most of your ??? knowledge to yourself. pete with an ih mill work like this is pretty easy to do. you cant compare a rf45 to a ih. just isnt the same.
oltimer