Latch interface for a valve actuating device

A method, comprising:

• milling a flat surface onto a first surface of an outer arm of a switching rocker arm assembly;
• assembling the switching rocker arm assembly including the outer arm assembled to an inner arm onto a manufacturing fixture, the inner arm comprising a latch bore and a latch seat, and the manufacturing fixture comprising:
• a ball plunger post extending upward from a base, the ball plunger post having a size and a shape of a hydraulic lift adjuster (HLA) of an internal combustion engine, and a valve stem post extending upward from the base, the valve stem post having a size and a shape of a valve stem of the internal combustion engine, the valve stem post having a position, a height, and an orientation relative to the ball plunger post corresponding to a relation between the valve stem of the internal combustion engine to the HLA of the internal combustion engine;
• placing a latch rod into the latch bore of the inner arm, the latch rod having a hardness exceeding a hardness of the outer arm;
• coining the latch seat of the inner arm with the latch rod;
• and
• measuring a latch lash of the switching rocker arm assembly.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a ball plunger post and a valve stem post extending upward from a base, the ball plunger post having a size and a shape of a hydraulic lift adjuster (HLA) of a predefined engine, the valve stem post having a size and a shape of a valve stem of the predefined engine, and the valve stem post having a position, a height, and an orientation relative to the ball plunger post corresponding to a relation between the valve stem of the predefined engine to the HLA of the predefined engine;
• wherein a manufacturing apparatus comprises a fixture sized and shaped to receive a switching rocker arm assembly for use in the predefined engine, the switching rocker arm assembly comprising a first end for pivoting and a second end for latching, and a latch with a latch pin fitting into a latch bore and a latch seat;
• and
• a latch rod configured to be positioned within the latch bore to rest upon the latch seat when the switching rocker arm assembly is mounted upon the ball plunger post and the valve stem post, the latch rod having a hardness higher than a hardness of the latch seat, and a same diameter as the latch pin, wherein the latch rod is adapted for coining the latch seat of the switching rocker assembly, the latch rod is further adapted for removal after coining so as to be replaced by the latch pin.