Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help

Ken Miele · 08-01-2019, 08:08 PM

Guys I need some help on understanding digitizing cylinder heads. I know this should be in the tech section, but I would like to get as many opinions as possible to understanding how this process works. Can the complete head be digitized. Meaning ports, bowl area, combustion chambers, every little nook and cranny so to speak.

Greenlight · 08-01-2019, 08:28 PM

You can digitize anywhere the probe (usually 3mm dia.) can get to.

Take a look at this.

Alan Roehrich · 08-01-2019, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Guys I need some help on understanding digitizing cylinder heads. I know this should be in the tech section, but I would like to get as many opinions as possible to understanding how this process works. Can the complete head be digitized. Meaning ports, bowl area, combustion chambers, every little nook and cranny so to speak.

Ken,
Yes, the ports and chambers can be fully digitized.

SSDiv6 · 08-01-2019, 10:28 PM

The are probe digitizers, laser digitizers and 3D scanners.
Yes, you can digitize and reverse engineer a cylinder head and even more complex parts.

Ken Miele · 08-01-2019, 11:51 PM

Interesting video, but that looks like a lengthy process, and it does not show how far then can go. So there are 3 types of scanners, they have to be very expensive. Can a laser scanner digitize around bends like a short turn radius. It looks like the technology is here, but how good is it really. I guess I'm not sold on it yet. Time do more research, thanks guys.

novassdude · 08-02-2019, 01:06 AM

The technology has been there for quite some time to digitize cylinder heads. If NHRA could get together with the manufactures they could really find out who's heads have been massaged. Not that there are any ported heads in stock.

X-TECH MAN · 08-02-2019, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novassdude

The technology has been there for quite some time to digitize cylinder heads. If NHRA could get together with the manufactures they could really find out who's heads have been massaged. Not that there are any ported heads in stock.

Now that is really funny to read first thing in the morning !

SSDiv6 · 08-02-2019, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Interesting video, but that looks like a lengthy process, and it does not show how far then can go. So there are 3 types of scanners, they have to be very expensive. Can a laser scanner digitize around bends like a short turn radius. It looks like the technology is here, but how good is it really. I guess I'm not sold on it yet. Time do more research, thanks guys.

Yes, 3D laser scanner or a Renishaw Cyclone digitizer can digitize around bends, contours, radiuses and more.

Andy Friar · 08-04-2019, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

Interesting video, but that looks like a lengthy process, and it does not show how far then can go. So there are 3 types of scanners, they have to be very expensive. Can a laser scanner digitize around bends like a short turn radius. It looks like the technology is here, but how good is it really. I guess I'm not sold on it yet. Time do more research, thanks guys.

Ken I understand being skeptical of the technology, but it really is that accurate these days. Most high end CNC machines these days have CMM probes on 3,4 or 5 axes arms inside the machine that do spot quality check's to .0005" accuracy, and then per an algorithm adjust tool paths for cutter wear, ambient temp and humidity differences, etc. Being a reporter, maybe you could drum up interest from a laser scanner/ CMM company to do an in depth 'how it works' article. What head are you specifically looking to scan? I ask because a lot of late model parts are available from the OEM via Sema: https://www.semagarage.com/techtransfer/Index

Some of the late model head CNC porting shops might have the base OEM CAD and/or full combustion, intake, exhaust port scanning capabilities too. It is isn't cheap, but the most accurate way, by far, to analyze the CFD flow in and out of the engine. Interesting stuff, gonna follow this thread...

Lynn A McCarty · 08-06-2019, 05:06 PM

Our people say they can get to 99% accuracy from a port, however, when going to the seat area, there are metrics like "picking the throat size." In this case we chose to go 92% that reduced flow quite significantly, so be very careful. We are doing a 642 cubic inch Pontiac engine and the throat size is the limiting factor. We brought the flow back with a carefully constructed intake manifold runner by Mr RPM himself, "the Kat" Rick Katterjohn.

Lynn McCarty
www.ramairv.com
317.260.3486

08-01-2019, 08:08 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,862 Likes: 461 Liked 16,560 Times in 1,523 Posts	Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help Guys I need some help on understanding digitizing cylinder heads. I know this should be in the tech section, but I would like to get as many opinions as possible to understanding how this process works. Can the complete head be digitized. Meaning ports, bowl area, combustion chambers, every little nook and cranny so to speak.

08-01-2019, 08:28 PM	#2
Greenlight Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 215 Likes: 16 Liked 79 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help You can digitize anywhere the probe (usually 3mm dia.) can get to. Take a look at this.

08-01-2019, 10:28 PM	#4
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,044 Likes: 712 Liked 1,583 Times in 582 Posts	Re: Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help The are probe digitizers, laser digitizers and 3D scanners. Yes, you can digitize and reverse engineer a cylinder head and even more complex parts.

08-01-2019, 11:51 PM	#5
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,862 Likes: 461 Liked 16,560 Times in 1,523 Posts	Re: Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help Interesting video, but that looks like a lengthy process, and it does not show how far then can go. So there are 3 types of scanners, they have to be very expensive. Can a laser scanner digitize around bends like a short turn radius. It looks like the technology is here, but how good is it really. I guess I'm not sold on it yet. Time do more research, thanks guys.

08-02-2019, 01:06 AM	#6
novassdude Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: usa Posts: 752 Likes: 204 Liked 136 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help The technology has been there for quite some time to digitize cylinder heads. If NHRA could get together with the manufactures they could really find out who's heads have been massaged. Not that there are any ported heads in stock.

08-06-2019, 05:06 PM	#10
Lynn A McCarty Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Plainfield (INDY) Indiana Posts: 468 Likes: 1 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Digitizing Cylinder Heads Help Our people say they can get to 99% accuracy from a port, however, when going to the seat area, there are metrics like "picking the throat size." In this case we chose to go 92% that reduced flow quite significantly, so be very careful. We are doing a 642 cubic inch Pontiac engine and the throat size is the limiting factor. We brought the flow back with a carefully constructed intake manifold runner by Mr RPM himself, "the Kat" Rick Katterjohn. Lynn McCarty www.ramairv.com 317.260.3486 Attached Thumbnails __________________ Lynn A McCarty 3470 SS Last edited by Lynn A McCarty; 08-06-2019 at 05:13 PM.