Printed rim? It's possible!

2017-05-09

3D printing is becoming increasingly popular on the market, gaining a wide audience of supporters and customers. This is no surprise, as this technology allows for the creation of everything from simple items to components for specialized devices, to almost works of art. The growing popularity of this technology is not surprising, especially since basic 3D printing devices have become significantly cheaper, and with a little design knowledge, they can save us a lot of trouble and provide a bit of fun.

As a company specializing in aluminum rims , we noticed the design of a printed rim, which had been subjected to countless tests and proved to be very durable. The young creators decided to use a two-piece bolted rim, fearing damage to the rim during tire installation. To increase the rim's strength, the rim only had small holes in its construction. The test car was a beat-up Vectra A – a mid-size Sedan. The wheel, which required an inner tube, was mounted on the vehicle's rear axle. Initial durability tests, involving driving over various hills and dips, were a positive surprise. The filmmakers admit they wanted to mount the rim on the front axle, but due to the shape of the brake caliper, this proved impossible (the rim was initially designed for a Fiat Panda). Therefore, they ultimately decided to conduct a more extreme test, leaving the PLA wheel on the rear axle. This test involved jumping out of a driveway. To the surprise of the spectators, the rim withstood several such maneuvers and maintained its shape until the end.

This type of project should, of course, be considered a curiosity, as—as we know—a rim, in addition to its primary role, also serves as a heat sink for the braking system. This could pose a significant problem for the material from which the 3D-printed rim is made. Nevertheless, this example demonstrates the potential future of 3D printing technology.

Below is a link to the original article and description of the rim:

http://mikroprint.pl/felga-samochodowa-pla/

PS. Don't try this at home :)

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