3D modeling of Cylinder Head

[mikev88]

I have access to a high quality 3D scanner at work. I would like to make a model of the intake and exhaust runners and also the combustion chamber for CAD flow analysis. However I dont think that the scanner will be able to scan deep inside the runner and I cant really come to work with a cylinder head... So if someone has a broken one all I would need is one combustion chamber which could then be cut open, scanned in parts and then mended toghether to make a complete model.

I am just throwing this out there, I would have to ask the guy who uses the scanner to confirm if it is possible. I am just looking if there is interest and if an old head is taking up somebody's usefull space. Of course I would have no problem sharing the info.

I would also try to make the two sets of Busa ITB's I bought of ebay fit on it by begging my collegues to make some adapters and trumpets in titanium using the EBM rapid prototyping.

[Mettler]

If you do this and scan up the ports, I'd be happy to supply my valvetrain simulation so we can get a proper working cylinder head in 3d, for virtual flowtesting and all that jazz.

EBM looks like a sweet way to make some parts!

[mikev88]

Thanks Mettler I think that would be great. I will try to find a junked engine or head around here somewhere since I most probably would have to cut up the head or at the very least it would be a LOT easier and I cant exactly use the equipement for days...

I definately think that the VH45 community needs to become more alive, so I will try to do my little part.

As EBM, I am going to see the new machine Thursday, apparently it can print in 3D any part that can fit inside a 16 inch by 16 inch square and a few feet high i think. Amazing machine, I think you could even do custom valves, although I dont know what alloy they use, but it is apparently as strong as Titanium can be, the parts need to be made a bit bigger and then finished as the surface is a bit rough, I can live with that!

[tmorgan4]

I would kill to have a whole VH to play with in Solidworks! I wish I had a spare head or I'd send it to ya.

[Aus450zx]

If you made up a kit to bolt on busa ITB's I'd be very keen

[Ptotherice]

If you made up a kit to bolt on busa ITB's I'd be very keen

I agree with this man. This is what I want to do with the VH in the end, and it sounds like you are well on your way to doing this. haha.

[mikev88]

I am lurking the VH community litterally for years. I am lucky enough to work now in a material research center, where we have amazing equipment from laser scanner to electron microscope. We even used to have a Tokamak nuclear fusion test reactor!! The call is out there, if someone wants to donate a head that is non functional.

The idea of making adjustable trumpets like F1 cars have is germinating in my head since a while also. I have collegues who work in electronics and programming who could help, the movement of the whole setup would not be that hard however, integrating that movement into an ECU table would probably take a lot of dyno time. So now I am just taking baby steps...

[CrazyTrance]

I have an entire extra VH sitting in my garage in Minneapolis... It's basically completely useless too me as it's got 256k miles on it and the heads are nasty looking...



And here is basically as it sits, just in a different corner of the garage haha. I've been holding onto it for spare parts for some reason or whatever. Or maybe for just this occasion.
Modified by CrazyTrance at 10:13 AM 9/17/2009

[1briteyes]

There is no need to cut up a head to do your scanning. One method we have used it to use pourable silicone rubber to fill the port. once this has gone off it can be removed and scanned in one piece. Blank off the valve guides by putting valves in backwards, blank off the manifold side and pour in through the valve side. you will need to fit a port filler to your blanking plate and have two more to put in from the valve side. After the silicone has cured remove these filler plugs and remove your mold. These plugs allow for somewhere for the silicone to collapse into when removing it. Remember liberal use of a release agent. Compressed air blown between the silicone and the head will help release some of the harder parts to get at, the use of wooden coffee stirrers or similar will help stop damaging the silicone too.

[mikev88]

Of course! I feel like hitting myself for not thinking about it. Why cut a head! I love this forum. I guess the new question is does someone have a dismounted head and has some spare time ? I guess one exhaust, one intake and the combustion chamber would be good, although is both could be molded toghether it would be simpler to put 3 scans toghether instead of five.

Anyone interested?