Wheel Manufacturing

[dread pirate]

For those who like to know how things are made:

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=11587

Found the above in an article. The machine automatically centres hubs and tensions the spokes on new loose spoked wheels at 300 wheels per hour! (i.e. 12 secs per wheel) It will accept a random feed of 24" to 28" wheels and automatically adjusts for diameter, rim type and hub type.

[arnott]

would it true a wheel as well or just make them. what a machine

[Spooky]

awesome invention :)

[dread pirate]

would it true a wheel as well or just make them. what a machine

"The machine tightens all 36 spoke nipples on the wheel simultaneously. In this process, the machine applies the same torque to all 36 spokes to tension the wheel whilst servo drives centre the hub. The amount of alignment work for the wheel on the automatic centring machine is thus reduced a minimum, involving the correction of small lateral run-outs"

I read this as meaning it comes out very close to true, it goes on to say that it saves over 40 seconds per wheel on the automatic centring machine, which I assume does the final trueing of the wheel.

[dunk]

I can't see how or what is doing up the nipples. Does a "driver" come from the outside of the rim and turn the nipple through the rim? Or does some sort of spoke key tighten the nipples from the inside of the wheel? Bu then how does it turn around the spoke?

Now I'm going to be thinking about this all bloody afternoon....where's a toolmaker when you need one?

[Rik]

where's a toolmaker when you need one?
Well... noone wants lunches, or a shitty job done, so I am of no use around here :oops:
I'd assume a driver comes in through the rim, I'd imagine that'd be the simplest way.

Sure, it looks shnazzy, and is damn impressive technology, but machine built wheels are never as good as a decent handbuilt wheel.

[dunk]

where's a toolmaker when you need one?
I'd assume a driver comes in through the rim, I'd imagine that'd be the simplest way.


Thats what I figured would be the way, so the wheel must lower into the machine further than shown in the picture.

[Rik]

Makes sense... actually, thinking about it, I noticed alot of bikes OEM wheels had burred nipple heads, I'd assume from a machine like this. So that'd just about confirm the flathead driver usage.

[THRILLHOUSE]

wouldn't mind getting hold of 1 of them so i could make up my own wheels 8)

[hairy]

i wish the bike shop building my wheels had one of them id have my wheels by now :cry: they take sooo long

[DJ_Robbie]

wouldn't mind getting hold of 1 of them so i could make up my own wheels 8)

pfft, if you've got the money to be building up wheels at 12 seconds a hit you're doing well to get past a minute or so :wink: