Pad Stamping

[Terry M.]

Re: Pad Stamping

So, are we saying that the cutters on these multi million dollar machines were not replaceable? Seems to me that if the cutters are replaced when damaged/worn, that could conceivably change the appearance of the tooling marks on the pad, no matter how many broach machines the plant was running.

Philip
You are putting words into my "mouth". I never said that.

The folks at Flint told me they run (now ran, since that plant is gone) two machines while the third was repaired. From the looks of the "cutters" that were on a nearby bench they replaced sets of tooling (as I recall 3 or four blades to a set) from time to time. They did tell me that when the broach machines broke a "china wall" (Those are the front and back valley walls.) the noise sounded like a cannon shot and they had to stop the machine and replace cutters as necessary.

Unfortunately I had no similar discussion with the personal at Tonawanda. We spent more time talking about W motors and L88s as that was the interest of my guide. There is a story about our Tonawanda visit in an old Restorer magazine. I understand the index to The Restorer is now on this site, so I would encourage you to look it up. The index will give you a better time frame for my Tonawanda visit than my memory can.

I agree with Patrick B. Trying to establish any specific pattern to the detailed finish of the broach marks is a fools errand, as I previously stated.

[Terry M.]

Re: Pad Stamping

The sets of progressively deeper "knives" are shown here.

Thank you James. That photo is used by Gary Bosselman in his Cylinder Case Machining presentation that he gave at the Michigan Regional and the Las Vegas National. Y'all should have been there. Attendance might have minimized or at least more closely focused this discussion.

The three cutters (I am not sure that is the correct technical term as I am not a machinist) nearest the photographer provide the finish, or last fine cuts and are what provide the finish we see on original cylinder cases. The other, farther away blades, are progressive and provide the roughing cuts.

The purpose of all this is to provide a flat and consistent surface so the original steel gaskets will seal. Although I didn't see them I would take it there are smaller broach machines to surface the cylinder heads.

[Dick W.]

Re: Pad Stamping

philip


i agree with patrick b. Trying to establish any specific pattern to the detailed finish of the broach marks is a fools errand, as i previously stated.

amen!! amen!!

[Tim G.]

Re: Pad Stamping

Great information and great pictures, thank you.