They place a significant emphasis on the metal’s grain and claims for it being the most critical element of a properly forged wheel. In other words, RAYS is able to take a hunk of aluminum and shape it into what roughly looks like a TE37 without any cutting. Mold-form forging shapes the wheel through compression using a series of dies so that its grain flows according to the shape of the wheel’s rim and spokes, allowing it to remain continuous, resulting in an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. For example, when machine forging, the metal’s grain is preset, typically traversing side to side, resulting in a wheel in which its grain may flow any number of directions once cut. ![]() And the better that grain follows the shape of its part, the stronger the part will be. The finer the grain, the higher quality the material is. ![]() Like lumber, metal has its own grain, also known as its fiber flow. The result is further improved strength compared to machine forged wheels. The grain of the forged aluminum flows with the shape of the wheel since the shape is created during the forging process rather than after the forging process. With machine forging, the grain doesn't properly flow through the shape of the wheel, since the flow of the grain is created during the forging process. Every piece of forged aluminum has a grain just like a piece of wood. The reason for the special forging process is to avoid disrupting the flow of the grain. Rays Engineering uses a unique process known as mold-form-forging, where the shape of the wheel is created during the forging process, rather than being cut out from a chunk of forged aluminum. This process is known as machine forging. For nearly all forged wheels, the desired wheel shape is cut from a large piece of forged aluminum. What makes the TE37's stronger than the large majority of forged wheels is their unique forging process. Forging simply increases the strength of the material, meaning less material is required to reach the target strength level, ultimately creating a lighter and stronger wheel. The TE37 is a forged wheel, which starts its life as a chunk of aluminum which is subjected to high temperatures and high pressures to form a more dense and compressed piece of aluminum. The special blend also helps with thermal conductivity, ultimately helping your brakes stay within their ideal operating temperature on track. The special 100% aluminum blend makes the material lighter and stronger, allowing the wheel to resist deformation under heavy loads such as rough roads or high g-force corning on a race track. The special blend isn't easily replicated and it's something very few companies haven?t been able to replicate. The base material used to construct a TE37 is Rays Engineering's special A6061-T6 blend is 100% aluminum, where many other "aluminum" wheels are only 80% aluminum. Part of their popularity stems from their incredibly unique construction method. FEA allows engineers to simulate stressful situations and determine where potential weak points may occur before manufacturing a single rim. On the road, a wheel’s outer rim undergoes significant amounts of stress during cornering while the inner portion is critical to the wheel’s ability to maintain appropriate tire grip. Analysisīefore anything can be developed, RAYS makes use of complicated FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software to determine whether or not a particular design doesn’t just look good but is structurally sound. In fact, Rays’ entire operation is based out of Japan, where all of the company’s design, manufacturing and marketing efforts are conducted, which ensures the sort of quality RAYS expects, and that JDM fanboys, like us here, can sleep soundly every night. And since 1996, the TE37 has been manufactured solely in Japan. Once considered a luxury reserved for the likes of formula cars that you can’t afford, RAYS helped introduce forged wheel technology to people like us with its Volk Racing line. Volk’s TE37 dates back to 1996, when Japanese wheel manufacturer RAYS first released its one-piece forged aluminum wheel to consumers. And, well, strong wheels, they don’t break. ![]() In terms of racing, it’s a matchup that’s essential: the more rigid the wheel, the better torque can be transmitted to the tires and, ultimately, to the road. Together, those characteristics are what make a wheel like this so distinctive. ![]() The TE37 adds two other important elements, though: strength and rigidity. If that’s all you care about, you’ve got plenty to chose from. They're incredibly popular for JDM vehicles, but it's not uncommon to see them on European or American vehicles as well. They've been popular for decades and even with minor design changes, the TE37 continues to be one of the most popular wheels out there. The Volk Racing TE37 is arguably one of the most popular wheels in the entire automotive aftermarket.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |