Casting engine block
#2
Senior Member
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Mobile,
AL
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
Seems to me as though you would have much more work for no gain. You need a pattern of some sort. The "easiest" way I have seen is foam. I have seen a Chevy Vortec block done this way. To look at the foam you would have thought it was the real deal. Pour or inject the molten metal in and the foam goes away. When cooled you have a block ready to machine. Why not just machine it out of a block of metal either manually or CNC? Either way you have to machine it. With the casting you need to machine it twice. Once for the mold and again for the finished product. Plus you have to deal with a foundry furnace and the mold processes. May even weigh more than a machined case. Some day I would like to machine a whole case. Need to retire first so I have all the time I need.
#3
RE: Casting engine block
One good aspect of making the mold....once you got a good mold you can make (pour) several more and even sell the blocks to other twin engine builders. Capt,n[:-]
#4
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coffeyville,
KS
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
maybe one of you could come up with a drawing, or better yet solid model of a case I could write a program for CNC and they would be very easily duplicated
#5
Senior Member
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Mobile,
AL
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
Yea that would be the ticket. But then I would need to retrofit the Bridgeport to CNC. Man it would be sweet though. Just Us Machine in Sterling Colorado used to do BME's cases. I talked to him about doing some for the 61cc Echo twins I have. Cases would be about $250.00 each for a very short run. Once you have the programming it is just a matter of setting up the tooling and then stand back and watch it hum.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Peoria, AZ
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
If you had a solid model (Solidworks for example), you could use readily available software (Mastercam possibly) to create the CNC code for the machining and use the program to proof the code before ever cutting any metal.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: atlanta,
GA
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
It would be a 4axis milling cnc isn't it ? ...hmmm Casting wouldn't be so bad since we can use the regular cylinder head. The casting would just be the base engine.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Coffeyville, KS
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
Tim sounded to me like Rooster was offering the program if someone furnished the drawing or working plan. Would that cut down on the cost of getting a case machined?
#9
Senior Member
My Feedback: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Mobile,
AL
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
Troy in a perfect world it would cut down the cost. However I bet most machine shops would want to write their own program. At least they would review all aspects of the program.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Coffeyville, KS
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
What I know about CNC you can stick in a thimble. LOL But always looking for away to get something for nothing. thinking about making a twin out of 2 echo 2100s.
#11
My Feedback: (27)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Woodland,
CA
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
Try this link:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_54..._1/key_/tm.htm
Huey pilot may still have an extra block.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_54..._1/key_/tm.htm
Huey pilot may still have an extra block.
#17
Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Waycross,
GA
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
The way I see it, casting/machining a block is not that hard an endeavor- I have machined single cylinder engine blocks to fit an existing rotating assembly with nothing more than my cheap little import lathe, mill and a boring head. It can be done- plan to spend ALOT of time standing there making chips. The problem lies in the crankshaft for whatever you are building- getting a double throw crank put together that will stand up to the situation is much harder than the casing to put it in. Most of the "model engine" sites that give any details on how they make cranks are geared towards the folks who make multi-cylinder model engines just to run them on a stand- not put it in a plane and turn it 8,000 rpm.
If I could figure out how to accomplish this, I'd build me up a twin based on Echo cylinders/pistons rods.
Anyone got any ideas?
If I could figure out how to accomplish this, I'd build me up a twin based on Echo cylinders/pistons rods.
Anyone got any ideas?
#18
My Feedback: (27)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Woodland,
CA
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_54..._1/key_/tm.htm
And a video http://rcuvideos.com/item/N8BCJ2L4KXVQH2FS
I ran out of gas at the end of the video.
And a video http://rcuvideos.com/item/N8BCJ2L4KXVQH2FS
I ran out of gas at the end of the video.
#21
Senior Member
RE: Casting engine block
If I could figure out how to accomplish this, I'd build me up a twin based on Echo cylinders/pistons rods.
Anyone got any ideas?
Anyone got any ideas?
A trip to the motorcycle shop might produce many ideas.
Bill
#25
Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Waycross,
GA
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Casting engine block
I have also seen the way some motorcycle cranks are done- alot of times, the crank throws are just a serious pressed fit together- I just can't see acheiving the needed accuracy like that without some major investment in tools and know how- also, this is one of those cases where the small size of what we are working on makes it harder also. The idea I saw in a post on the spot welding together of the counterweights sounds do-able. I will have to look into that.
I want to focus my attention on the smaller ones- like made from 23cc echo parts- I have a box full of old 23cc echo stuff from commercial trimmers. They are high quality parts.
Plus, I don't think my boring head will go big enough to do a case for the G-62's.
I want to focus my attention on the smaller ones- like made from 23cc echo parts- I have a box full of old 23cc echo stuff from commercial trimmers. They are high quality parts.
Plus, I don't think my boring head will go big enough to do a case for the G-62's.