An Example in Steel  Casting  --  Lever Arm in the BMW Engine Valve Train

Quality Assurance

The dimensional tolerances on the lever arm are critical to the operation of the engine valve train.  Dimensional and casting quality are checked at five points in the casting process.

Coordinate Measuring Machine
  • Critical dimensions on the wax pattern are checked prior to pattern assembly.

  • Critical tolerances on the bearings are automatically measured.

  • The slope of the  profile is gauged and the lever arms are classified into six tolerance bands (8 micron span) so that matched sets are installed into a given engine.

  • The alignment and contour of the bearing pads are 100% inspected by a coordinate measuring machine.

  • The casting is visually inspected for surface quality and bearing operation after assembly. 

 

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Last Modified:October, 2003 by STG

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