spinning machines

[MBG]

Has anybody delt with spinning machines before? Where can I get more info on spinning machines?

-garrett

[ViperTX]

Like looms or metal spinning....*chuckle*......so Homeshop Machinist had some articles about 18 months ago....a guy bought a 3 in 1 lathe and convereted it into a metal spinning lathe.....he seemed pretty knowledgeable about the subject.....or were you looking for info on the professional machines?

[ViperTX]

Check the Home Shop Machinist of a few months back. Roland retro-ed a Bridgeport BOSS with Geckos, etc.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by ViperTX Like looms or metal spinning....*chuckle*......so Homeshop Machinist had some articles about 18 months ago....a guy bought a 3 in 1 lathe and convereted it into a metal spinning lathe.....he seemed pretty knowledgeable about the subject.....or were you looking for info on the professional machines?

i'm not to skilled on budiling my own machines I don't think. I tried it kinda don't have the time to fiddle around with it.

but thanks though. I was looking for metal spinning (wheel).

[MBG]

anybody

[MBG]

Anybody out there could help me? I am interested in making wheels (automobile)

[ViperTX]

MBG...why would you want to spin automobile wheels...have you thought about how thick those wheels have to be....I think you're taking the wrong approach.

[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...

[mxtras]

What are your intentions with this intense pursuit for wheel manufacturing? Casting, forging, spinning....?

I am not trying to kill your enthusiasm - I think you are misjudging the effort and expertise it takes to get a product to market.

Scott

[MBG]

Originally Posted by mxtras What are your intentions with this intense pursuit for wheel manufacturing? Casting, forging, spinning....? I am not trying to kill your enthusiasm - I think you are misjudging the effort and expertise it takes to get a product to market. Scott

I would like to forge them.

Also by making them out of a billet. That has to be a lot of money. I know they make motorcycle wheels out of billet and they said it takes about a day to just machine one. That is to long of time.

[MBG]

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.

[mxtras]

The "billet" method would be the least expensive to get going with. I say "least" loosely - you are still going to spend at least $150,000 before you can even look into the back of the delivery truck and realize that you don't have the electrical power needed to run such machines....or a way to unload it from the truck! Before you make any chips, you will need several thousand more for Software, tooling and handling equipment. ..and commercial space. A piece of solid aluminum large enough to make a wheel is going to weigh about 450 pounds - you need a way to move these things around the shop.

The lathe - a 15X50 would turn a 30" diameter and is not considered a big machine. You can get them from China brand new for under $6K, used from E-bay for as little as $1500. Might not be the best for constant production but a machine of this size would make a wheel for a car...at least one or two. A VTL would probably be the better choice for production. Most production machines are somewhat custom built for their intended purpose.

The mill - too many variables to say. The less capable machines could be had for $30K - $50K. You can spend 4 million for a mill if you wanted - depends on your design and your methods. NOT easily converted to single phase power - many times impossible, so this would mandate a commercial setting. This is another subject entirely.

What do you expect your volumes would be? I (as well as others) may be interested in making them for you - either in low or high volumes. From what I have read, this may be the best option for you. It takes many, many, many years to learn and obtain everything you need (including the experience) to successfully manufacture items such as this.

I once supervised a guy with a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. He did not know that weldments warped and moved. ...but, you say - he had the education, right? 3.87GPA, masters degree - brilliant guy. He knew advanced calculus like you would not believe. He needed the hands-on experience of engineering to become valuable on a daily basis and this took about three years.

Education is valuable. Experience is invaluable.

AGAIN - I am not trying to deter you. You seem determined and that is a good thing, for sure.

Scott