Short video on how the rotary engine is made
10-10-2007, 06:36 PM
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10-10-2007, 09:34 PM
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That was very interesting.
I was surprised that the rotors are assembled by hand and placed in to the engine by hand. It seems that the need for precise fitting prevents Mazda from automating the process. In some ways, I feel better that the rotors were done by hand.
Of course, I sure hope I didn't get a Monday or Friday engine ;-)
I was surprised that the rotors are assembled by hand and placed in to the engine by hand. It seems that the need for precise fitting prevents Mazda from automating the process. In some ways, I feel better that the rotors were done by hand.
Of course, I sure hope I didn't get a Monday or Friday engine ;-)
10-11-2007, 08:22 AM
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That's because you and dehli aren't automotive engineers. Per the video, Mazda uses some very high-tech auditing techniques when needed. Remember that some of the seals aren't rigid parts. This is an area where a robot might have difficulty detecting ease-of-motion and fit, resiliency, etc.
You may not believe it, but some of the most accurately made manufactured items in the world, precision aspheric optics, are not completely machine-made. They must be of such a high degree of accuracy, sometimes to a tolerance of 0.000002", that no robotic equipment can complete the final polish or "figuring". It must be done by the skilled hands and eyes of a master optician, with frequent testing.
One day, no doubt such high tolerances will be within ecconomical reach of robotic manufacturing, but we're not quite there yet.
I'm giving Mazda the benefit of the doubt.
You may not believe it, but some of the most accurately made manufactured items in the world, precision aspheric optics, are not completely machine-made. They must be of such a high degree of accuracy, sometimes to a tolerance of 0.000002", that no robotic equipment can complete the final polish or "figuring". It must be done by the skilled hands and eyes of a master optician, with frequent testing.
One day, no doubt such high tolerances will be within ecconomical reach of robotic manufacturing, but we're not quite there yet.
I'm giving Mazda the benefit of the doubt.
10-11-2007, 08:58 AM
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very true, but we are getting very close to those precisions, i work at harley davidson in the powertrain operations, so i do know what it takes to put an engine together, and i see new machines come in, and each new one takes another step into ultra precision.
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