The ones I've seen were cut on a bandsaw.

Doubt you'll get it laser cut...most laser cutters will cut no more than 10mm in aluminum due to refraction, even then you get a slightly angled cut.
Water cut has a max of around 150mm... could be a go, but maybe if yr strapped for cash just chuck it on a bandsaw eh?

Cheers, thats waht I'm looking for.

The university has just installed a laser cutter. Now I have to get friendly with the workshop technicians so I can actually use it for the benefit of research!

Laser or water cut would be the nicest with minimul material loss. Or a good engineer on a mill with a thin side&face cutter/sliting saw

I've picked up an oval port A14 head (no water galleys to carb manifold) and the rear water ports have corroded through too close to the cylinder.

I'll probably take the head to get sliced to use as research into porting and flow.

How do they cut these normally? A drop saw sounds a bit rough, can they be laser cut?

I need a clean crisp cut to show wall thicknesses throughout.

I plan on drawing the head in sections for the benefit of other members so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would assume cuts through the ports would be the most valuable sections, agree??