March 28, 2009

Progress on machining cylinders

This series of photos shows continuing work on the cylinder head faces.  There is still plenty of casting material to be removed.  This process is a trial cut in order to validate the drawings, providing an opportunity for corrections, if necessary.  Later, the faces will be machined to the finished length and holes for the studs drilled & threaded.

Machining off extra casting stock on valve and cylinder faces. Next 3 pictures.	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
Milling out material to obtain a flat surface for frame bolt fit at one of the frame bolt holes.	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
Cylinder in horizontal milling machine.  The cylinder is fixed to the table while the horizontal milling spindle moves.	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
Test layout of cylinder head ground joint and stud pattern. This layout has extra casting material to allow for any required change.  You can see the small layout marks indicating the location of holes for the studs.	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
Machining a test layout of cylinder ground joint, stud pattern, counter bore details and undercuts. this was completed on the back end of the cylinders to prove the design drawings  before machining to finish length.   Next series of photos are included in this caption.	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
Continuing photos that show the machining of the rear heads actual layout on location with extra stock to validate the drawings.	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation
General overview of cylinder machining set up.  Note 786 frame in the background	Photo: Steam Operations Corporation