A Closer Look at the World’s First 3D Printed Titanium Wheels
While many manufacturers are currently dedicating time and money to researching just how much 3D printing can save in costs and efficiency, one study found that 3D printing in the automotive industry has the potential to reduce the cost of developing an entirely new vehicle from $600 million to just $60 million. Various companies have already begun to put this innovative technology to work, and this month saw the realization of it to produce the world’s first titanium wheels. The collaboration between HRE Performance Wheels and GE Additive marks the first time that performance wheels have been created using additive manufacturing.
CNC machining automates the operation of machine tools using programmed computer commands. It facilitates the accurate production of many different kinds of parts ranging from simple drop off screw machine parts to highly complex components.
Here is a brief overview of CNC machining capabilities:
CNC milling is a cost effective solution for machining parts with complex shapes and/or tight tolerances, especially for low volume projects.
CNC precision milling can produce virtually any shape where the material is accessible by the rotating cutting tools.
Also, if you have components that are not round or square and have a unique or complex shape, we can help.
With inhouse custom fixturing capabilities, we specialize in the precision milling and machining of hard-to-hold, difficult-to-manufacture castings, forgings and other metal components.
If you want to find out more about the applications of CNC machines then take a look at this C 42 U MT dynamic – EMO 2019 eBooklet – Siemens mobile fair guide. It has much more useful information on.
Contour offers a number of precision CNC turning services for a wide range of industries and applications. Turning processes include cutting, facing, threading, forming, drilling, knurling, and boring. We can work with steel, stainless, brass, bronze, copper, iron, nickel, tin, titanium, Inconel and more. We can also machine plastics like ABS, Polycarbonate, PVC, and PTFE. Work piece sizes range from less than 1″ in diameter to about 10″ in diameter, and up to about 12″ in length, depending upon part configuration. Thru the bore capacity in the lathes is up to 3″ diameter.
Typical volumes range from 25 pieces to 15,000 pieces. Five-axis machining allows us to move a workpiece along five different axes simultaneously. This provides precision machining of complex parts and the ability to drop-off many components complete…thus making the use of this advanced technology extremely economical. Five-axis CNC machining and five-sided milling is also ideal for achieving the fine surface finishes increasingly being required by our customers. Our equipment include a Haas UMC750 5 Axis machine, a Deckel Maho DMU 50 Evo 5-axis, 5 sided machining center and a Hitachi Seiki Super Hi-Cell CNC 5 axis turn/mill with bar feeders and 10″ chucks. you can find our precision machined parts at our website here.
The Process of 3D Printing Titanium Wheels
The process of using a titanium plate and turning it into an impressive supercar wheel is actually fairly easy once it’s explained, leading many in the industry to wonder why it hasn’t been done before. The titanium wheels, which have been named HRE3D+ wheels, are made using a type of 3D printing called electron beam melting. This requires that titanium be melted one layer at a time with electron beams. Pretty high-tech, right? Well, it’s actually part of the functionality of the process as it makes it possible to print shapes that yield more complex results than with traditional CNC machines. While the wheels are currently just prototypes, they are lightweight and functional, with guests at the Formnext trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, where they were debuted, impressed with the design and functionality. Patrick Moran, creative director at HRE Wheels, stated that “The goal behind the partnership between GE Additive and HRE Wheels was to show the capabilities of additive manufacturing in a practical application.”
The Benefits of Titanium in Car Manufacturing
Lightweight and durable, using titanium in car manufacturing is beneficial to consumers as well as producers as it is one of the strongest materials found on Earth. Compared to aluminum, titanium is actually more corrosion resistant and is able to produce stronger car parts such as wheels. The process used to make traditional wheels out of aluminum has been shown to be more time-intensive and puts design limitations on what manufacturers can do, which is evident when comparing the incredibly intricate and impressive design of the titanium wheels produced by HRE Performance Wheels and GE Additive to their traditional aluminum counterparts. Spokespeople from the companies note that not only is this process more efficient, but it’s also more sustainable as well, making these wheels green and sexy. For the production of traditional aluminum wheels, about 80% of the material is removed and wasted. For HRE3D+ titanium wheels, only 5% of the material is removed.
When You Can Expect to See the Wheels on the Market
If all this talk about sustainable, sexy wheels has got you aching to purchase your own set, you’ll be a little disappointed to know that there’s currently no set release date. Although, you can take your car to a more affordable Wheel and Tyre fitting on https://www.gaswheels.com.au/ to make your auto improve it’s performance. After debuting at the show in Germany, manufacturers are heading back to the warehouse to continue testing on prototypes. For now, you’ll have to trust that the automotive industry will continue to understand the sustainable benefits of titanium in car design and hope that the technology and design will become more widespread as time goes by.