The cold heading forming process of steel wheel rims

Cold heading forming of steel wheel rims is one of the important steps in the manufacturing process, which uses cold deformation to process the wheel rim raw materials at room temperature to obtain more precise sizes and shapes.

Raw material preparation: The first step in cold heading molding is to prepare raw materials. Typically, carbon steel or alloy steel is used as the raw material for wheel rims. These raw materials require precise composition control to ensure the final product has the required strength and durability.

Cutting and pre-forming: The raw materials are first cut to appropriate lengths and preliminary pre-formed before cold heading. This can include some preliminary plastic processing of the raw material in preparation for the subsequent cold heading process.

Cold heading machine operation: Cold heading machine is the key equipment for cold heading molding. In a cold heading machine, the raw material is placed between molds, and then mechanical force is exerted on the raw material to cause it to plastically deform. This process takes place at room temperature and is therefore called cold heading. During the cold heading process, the raw material gradually acquires the desired rim shape and at the same time forms a more uniform grain structure internally.

Multi-pass cold heading: In order to further accurately control the shape and size of the wheel rim, multiple passes of cold heading are usually required. Each pass may use different molds and deformation ratios to gradually achieve the final rim shape.

Shot blasting: After cold heading, there may be some residual oxide or grease on the wheel rim. In order to improve the surface quality, shot blasting technology is usually used to clean the surface by spraying projectiles to remove impurities and improve the surface finish.

Dimensional inspection: The cold-formed wheel rims need to undergo strict dimensional inspection. This is achieved through the use of precision measurement tools and equipment to ensure that the product's geometry meets design requirements.

Finished product treatment: After cold heading is completed, the wheel rim may require additional treatments, such as heat treatment or surface treatment, to further improve its performance and durability.