| DriverzInc |
10-28-2010 10:23 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil B
(Post 313413)
The question I'm asking is why. The 1-piece center had a great look to it. Why would New Gen change it? I'm just trying to learn a bit about wheel construction here. Did they just want to change the design or is it something about the manufacturing process or 3-piece wheel engineering that drove the change?
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We looked at countless center forgings, and modeled it a hundred different ways before we chose the final product (what you see here). Also, the forging had to be available in step lip diameters, and soft lip diameters, and have a pad length long enough to clear 6 piston brakes. All things considered, we chose the best of the best we could.
Three piece forgings have a much "thinner" cross section, and there just is not enough thickness to round off the spoke anymore than what we've done, and this was the "best" forging to use that is available. Unless we choose to cut the wheel out of solid plate and drive the cost up to 2000 dollars a wheel, this is the best option for a production wheel. This wheel is already taking 2hrs in the mill per center (as it is a 3D wheel) and at some point we need to think about production cost.
I think the wheel looks killer both ways. The 3 piece is little more of a modern interpretation of its vintage counter part, and I think definitely get's the point across. |
