1. Get a smooth, controlled finish every time. Electrically Driven Traversing Table with a variable speed table traverse and infinite speed control in each direction.Â
2. 24â between table and cutter plate. Roll over a 440 Chrysler block easily.Â
3. Power head traverse quickly positions head and eliminates operator fatigue.Â
4. Rigid cast iron base and table incorporate flat and v-way design for maximum accuracy and life.Â
5. Precision Vertical ball leadscrew increases sensitivity, accuracy, repeatability.Â
6. CBN milling, grinding or combination machines offer extreme versatility.Â
7. 14â Milling head with dual CBN Cutters.Â
8. Cast Iron âboxâ type columns with dovetail ways extend durability and precision.Â
9. High precision spindle bearings and heavy-duty precision construction allow operator to achieveÂ
10. low RA surface finishes, and factory desired micro-inch finish with ease.Â
11. Ready to use with standard tooling of universal head and block fixturing, including cylinder  head and blockÂ
12.Cylinder head mounting plate, universal rollover fixture and parallel supports
14. Variable speed  spindle Infinite on the Fly
15. Ball Screw vertical feed
16. Joy stick Control Up Down and table Left and Right
     Unltra Smooth Ball Screw feed For Vertical and Table feed.
     Infinitly Variable Table feed And Spindle Rotation.
 Phone: 1- 413- 566-0037
Resurfacing cylinder heads and engine blocks is an essential aspect of engine building today, whether the work is being done by a production engine rebuilder, a high performance specialist or small custom shop. Bimetal engines, multi-layer steel (MLS) head gaskets and tighter assembly tolerances make accurate surfacing more critical than ever before. The key to achieving high quality ultra-smooth surface finishes is using the right equipment, the right abrasives and the right resurfacing techniques.Â
According to more than one equipment supplier we interviewed, some shops are still trying to "make do" with outdated surfacing equipment such as broaches and grinders. But many of these shops are learning the hard way that yesterday's equipment can't deliver the kind of finishes that are required for today's engines. We're talking surface finishes with microinch roughness averages in the single digits on some late model engines as well as performance engines that are running MLS head gaskets. Even when a super smooth finish isn't required, having the flexibility to reproduce any kind of surface finish on any kind of cylinder head or block is a definite plus.
It's not surprising, therefore, that one of the most often replaced machines in shops today is surfacing equipment. Old broaches and grinding machines are being replaced with purpose-built high-speed surfacers that use long-life CBN and/or PCD inserts. Some of these machines are also multi-purpose machining centers with manual or CNC controls that can also be used for boring blocks.
Another improvement that often comes with an equipment upgrade is increased productivity. With the right fixturing, you can reduce the time it takes to mount the parts on the machine and set up your cut. If a new surfacer is easier to use and reduces setup and cycle times 5, 10 or even 20 minutes per job, the savings can really add up. Less time spent setting up and operating the equipment means more time for other work and/or a higher volume of jobs completed every day.
In a custom shop where you may be working on several different engines at the same time, a surface that can be reset quickly from one job to the next can keep work flowing smoothly instead of creating a bottleneck. Some surfacers can be set up and mill a head in five minutes or less, which is pretty quick in a fast paced shop. And if you're doing several identical heads in a row, the actual milling time may only be a couple of minutes. It all depends on the speed of the cutter head, the number of tool bits, the feed rate and how smooth the finish on the parts needs to be.
Most of today's high speed surfacers are designed to use CBN or PCD inserts in their cutter heads. CBN is the most popular choice for cutting both cast iron and aluminum because it can handle either material with ease. CBN also cuts cleanly at high rpm and can take the heat that's generated by higher cutting speeds. PCD is the best choice for aluminum but it doesn't work well on cast iron. Carbide is still popular because of its lower initial cost, and coated carbide helps extend tool life. But CBN and PCD generally lower operating costs over the long run when you consider how much longer superabrasives hold their edge and resist wear.
CBN inserts in a milling machine will typically cut 20 to 50 times as many heads as carbide inserts. The increased longevity of CBN improves consistency from one job to the next, and reduces down time for tooling changes.
Because CBN and PCD are designed for high speed milling, replacing the carbide inserts in an older surfacer won't necessarily achieve all the benefits that these superabrasives are capable of delivering - especially if an existing surfacer lacks the horsepower, rigidity or adjustability to operate at higher spindle speeds. Rigidity becomes a factor as operating speeds increase. A machine that lacks the required rigidity can't deliver ultra smooth finishes at high speed because there's too much movement between the workpiece, table and cutter head.
For example, a converted grinder may be able to mill heads and blocks. But the spindles and table drives in many of these older machines cannot hold close enough tolerances to achieve a really smooth, flat finish. One equipment manufacturer said grinding and milling machines that are more than five years old are probably incapable of producing consistent results and should be replaced.
Most of the surfacing equipment that's being sold to shops today has been redesigned for high speed milling with CBN and PCD. The machines have been beefed up with more powerful motors, heavier castings, electrically-driven ball screw tables, and tighter assembly tolerances. Some can hold machining tolerances to one tenth of a thousandth of an inch (.0001" )! You might not need that kind of accuracy for an economy smallblock Chevy V8 rebuild, but you might want that kind of accuracy for a megabuck high performance engine or even a late model high output overhead cam engine. There's no such thing as too much accuracy.
Engine Rebuilder Machine 3/12/
Head and Block Resurfacing 101
The key to achieving high quality ultra-smooth surface finishes is using the right equipment, the right abrasives and the right resurfacing techniques
By Larry Carley
 Phone: 1- 413- 566-0037
$42,500 54 inches CNC CBN 54 inches
$32,500 42 inches CNC CBN 54 inches