What is the Manufacturing Process of Car Wheel Hubs?
1 Answers
There are three main methods for manufacturing wheel hubs: gravity casting, forging, and low-pressure precision casting: 1. Gravity Casting Method: This method involves pouring molten aluminum alloy into a mold under gravity. After forming, the hub is processed and polished using a lathe to complete production. The manufacturing process is relatively simple, requiring no sophisticated casting techniques, resulting in low costs and high production efficiency. However, it is prone to bubbles (sand holes), uneven density, and insufficient surface smoothness. 2. Forging Method: An entire aluminum ingot is directly extruded into shape on a mold using a thousand-ton press. The advantages include uniform density, smooth and fine surface, thin and lightweight hub walls, and the highest material strength—30% higher than casting methods. However, due to the need for advanced production equipment and a yield rate of only 50-60%, the manufacturing cost is higher. 3. Low-Pressure Precision Casting Method: This method involves precision casting under a low pressure of 0.1Mpa. It offers excellent formability, clear contours, uniform density, and a smooth surface. It achieves both high strength and lightweight while controlling costs, with a yield rate of over 90%. This is the mainstream manufacturing method for high-quality aluminum alloy wheel hubs.
