Method and plant for processing a machined automotive part, in particular for processing a cylinder head

摘要

The invention relates to a process and a corresponding industrial plant (100) for processing a machined automotive part, e.g. a cylinder head, wherein: - a cleaning station (120) cleans the machined part with heated fluid, e.g. by hot water washing, in order to remove machining remainders; - a testing station (140) tests the part for compliance with one or more pre-determined requirements, in particular for being leak-proof; and - an assembly station (130) fits, by thermal interference fitting, one or more additional components to the part. In accordance with the invention, the process and stations (120, 130, 140) are arranged for a sequence of processing with cleaning (R) prior to thermal interference fitting (M) and with thermal interference fitting prior to testing (P). As will be appreciated, this RMP-sequence enables thermal interference fitting to make use or take advantage of residual thermal expansion of the part produced as side-effect of cleaning with heated fluid. The plant and process are particularly suitable for fitting one or more valve seat inserts (16) and/or valve stem guides (18) to a cylinder head (11) or for fitting one or more cylinder liners to a unitary crankcase-cylinder block.