Method and system for manufacturing a cylinder head

Abstract

A method and system for machining a cylinder head include loading a cylinder head into a first five axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine. A first fixture of the first CNC machine is then located against a top surface of the cylinder head such that the cylinder head is in a horizontal position. The first CNC machine then machines the cylinder head in the horizontal position. A second fixture of the first CNC machine is then located against a bottom surface of the cylinder head such that the cylinder head is in a vertical position. The first CNC machine then machines the cylinder head in the vertical position. The cylinder head is then moved into a second five axis CNC machine. A fixture of the second CNC machine is then located against a bottom surface of the cylinder head. The second CNC machine then machines the cylinder head.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for machining a cylinder head comprising: 
 loading a cylinder head into a first five axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine;    locating a first fixture of the first CNC machine against a top surface of the cylinder head such that the cylinder head is in a horizontal position;    machining the cylinder head in the horizontal position with the first CNC machine;    locating a second fixture of the first CNC machine against a bottom surface of the cylinder head such that the cylinder head is in a vertical position;    machining the cylinder head in the vertical position with the first CNC machine;    moving the cylinder head into a second five axis CNC machine;    locating a fixture of the second CNC machine against a bottom surface of the cylinder head; and    machining the cylinder head with the second CNC machine.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein locating a first fixture of the first CNC machine against a top surface of the cylinder head comprises: 
 locating the first fixture of the first CNC machine with respect to cylinder head cast locators and combustion chamber buttons of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein locating a second fixture of the first CNC machine against a bottom surface of the cylinder head comprises: 
 locating the second fixture of the first CNC machine with respect to manufacturing holes of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein machining the cylinder head in the horizontal position with the first CNC machine comprises: 
 orienting a spindle of the first CNC machine adjacent the bottom surface of the cylinder head to machine the bottom surface of the cylinder head with the spindle as a function of depth of the combustion chamber buttons of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein machining the cylinder head in the horizontal position with the first CNC machine further comprises: 
 indexing the cylinder head by  90  degrees; and  
 machining a front side face of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein machining the cylinder head in the horizontal position with the first CNC machine further comprises: 
 indexing the cylinder head by  180  degrees; and  
 machining a rear side face of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein machining the cylinder head in the vertical position with the first CNC machine further comprises: 
 orienting a spindle of the second CNC machine adjacent the top surface of the cylinder head to machine the top surface of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein machining the cylinder head with the second CNC machine comprises: 
 orienting a spindle of the second CNC machine adjacent the top surface of the cylinder head to machine the top surface of the cylinder head with the spindle.  
 
     
     
         9 . A system for machining a cylinder head comprising: 
 a first five axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine having a first fixture operable for locating against a top surface of a cylinder head such that the cylinder head is in a horizontal position to enable the first CNC machine to machine the cylinder head in the horizontal position, and a second fixture operable for locating against a bottom surface of the cylinder head such that the cylinder head is in a vertical position to enable the first CNC machine to the cylinder head in the vertical position; and    a second five axis CNC machine having a fixture operable for locating against a bottom surface of the cylinder head to enable the second CNC machine to machine the cylinder head.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the first fixture of the first CNC machine is located against a top surface of the cylinder head with respect to cylinder head cast locators and combustion chamber buttons of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the second fixture of the first CNC machine is located against a bottom surface of the cylinder head with respect to manufacturing holes of the cylinder head.  
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the first CNC machine machines the cylinder head in the horizontal position by orienting a spindle of the first CNC machine adjacent the bottom surface of the cylinder head to machine the bottom surface of the cylinder head with the spindle as a function of depth of the combustion chamber buttons of the cylinder head.