What does flow formed mean?
Flow forming technology is one of the most advanced manufacturing technologies to enter the wheel industry. Flow Forming Technology involves the application of pressure to the inner barrel of the wheel, while spinning and after it has been casted.
How is flow formed?
The flow forming process, sometimes called flow forging, rotary forging, spun rim, or rim rolling, begins with a cast wheel that is loaded into a specialized machine that spins the wheel while pressing steel rollers against the rim area to pull the rim to its final width and shape.
What is Flowform construction?
Explanation : “Flow Forming” is a procedure that uses 3 hydraulic rollers and tremendous pressure to ”Form” the inner rim area. Through this process, the hydraulic rollers force the cast material to conform to the profile of the massive steel tooling. During the process, the full width of the rim is created.
Is flow formed better than cast?
Flow formed wheels are a great option for those who want something lighter and more durable than a cast wheel. On the track, for example, less weight leads to less rotating mass, a benefit for both greater acceleration and breaking efficiency.
Are flow formed wheels stronger?
Flow Formed wheels are wheels that have been made by applying pressure to the inner barrel of the wheel while it is spinning after the casting has taken place. This allows the wheel to be much lighter, stronger, have a greater resistance to shock, and a higher load capacity when compared to cast wheels.
Is flow formed forged?
Between CAST and FULLY FORGED is a sort of hybrid of the two. This one is called FLOW-FORMED. Because the aluminum in the barrel is physically being both compressed and stretched at the same time, this increases the strength properties of the barrel making it very close to a fully forged wheel.
Are OEM wheels cast or forged?
OEM wheels are low-pressure cast. There are many aftermarket wheels that are forged or semi-forged and thus stronger than any OEM cast wheel. In a nutshell, some aftermarkets are stronger and others are not.
What is a flow formed wheel?
Are enkei flow formed?
Enkei has adopted two technologies – the Durville die casting and MAT process that ensure cast aluminum wheels have strength comparable to forged ones. This spinning process creates “metal flow” in the metal structure of the aluminum alloy, which is similar to the metal property seen in the forging process.
What is Flow forged vs forged?
FLOW FORMED WHEEL PROS: Lighter than cast wheels, less expensive than forged wheels. FLOW FORMED WHEEL CONS: Center of wheels is still cast so it is prone to failures. For people who need a wheel that is stronger than a cast wheel and also stronger than a flow formed wheel there is a solution: forged wheels.