How are Manufacturing Machines Adapted for the Production of Hollow Sodium-Filled Valves?​

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Hollow sodium-filled valves represent the pinnacle of performance valve technology, primarily used in high-revving and high-temperature engines. Their manufacturing requires specialized and adapted machinery. The process begins with drilling a long, precise hollow channel through the center of the valve stem. This is a deep-hole drilling operation that requires extreme precision to avoid breaking the drill bit or creating an off-center bore.

After the stem is hollowed, a precise amount of metallic sodium is inserted. Sodium is chosen because it melts at engine operating temperatures. As the valve oscillates, the liquid sodium sloshes inside the stem, efficiently transferring heat from the hotter valve head to the cooler stem, where it is dissipated through the valve guide. This prevents valve overheating and burning. The final and most critical step is friction welding a cap onto the open end of the stem to hermetically seal the sodium inside. Our manufacturing systems are engineered to handle this complex process with absolute precision and containment, ensuring safety and reliability in these advanced components.