Originally Posted by anoel Are you really wanting to make automobile wheels??? You should try to locate a manufacturer and try to request a tour of the facility. I worked a summer at a BUD Wheel plant back in college. They cast aluminum wheels for a particular style and then chuck them up on custom CNC lathes and turn them to final dimension. Then they go out to polishing or plating. I only drove a fork truck but it was cool to watch.
They made steel wheels there too but I never went to that side of the plant but I think that they were stamped welded and trued up on a lathe setup. They also made Railcar wheels and axles too.
I'd venture to say that the only way for a small shop to get into making wheels would be like they do on American Hot Rod. On a big mill from billet blanks.
Oh, and make sure you have a GOOD Lawyer and Plenty of insurance before you even think about letting someone purchase a wheel... |
Instead of casting it. You could forget it and put it on a BIG lathe huh. WOw how big of a lathe would you know.. Then you would need to put it on a mill for the insides.