Sponsored

HRE3D+ | The WORLDS FIRST 3D-Printed Titanium Wheel

Status
Not open for further replies.

FlowForm_Wheels

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Threads
159
Messages
1,328
Reaction score
777
Location
Vista, CA
Website
www.hrewheels.com
First Name
HRE Wheels
Vehicle(s)
Mustang
Logo.jpg

44045823040_d72896e23c_o.jpg


HRE WHEELS PARTNERS WITH GE ADDITIVE TO CREATE FIRST 3D-PRINTED TITANIUM WHEEL
HRE and GE Additive’s AddWorks team have used Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technology to create a new prototype wheel made from an advanced titanium powder, unveiling the first automotive wheel to be made with this process.



Vista, Calif. (November, 2018) – HRE Wheels and GE Additive announced a partnership agreement today and unveiled the first titanium wheel created using EBM technology (a type of 3D printing). Known as “HRE3D+”, this new prototype wheel shows what the future of wheel technology will bring and how advanced materials like titanium can be harnessed to create complex designs.

The goal of the “HRE3D+” project was to test the capabilities of additive manufacturing in a practical application and to create a highly-sophisticated wheel design with an elusive material like titanium. With a traditional aluminum Monoblok wheel, 80% of material is removed from a 100-pound forged block of
aluminum to create the final product. With additive manufacturing, only 5% of the material is removed and recycled, making the process far more efficient. Titanium also has a much higher specific strength than aluminum and is corrosion resistant, allowing it to be extremely lightweight and to be shown in its raw finish.

There was an intensive design collaboration between the Vista, California based team at HRE and the GE AddWorks team out of Ohio. Using design queues from two existing models of HRE wheels, the two companies worked together to create a stunning example of what is possible with additive manufacturing.

The wheel was produced on two Arcam EBM machines - Q20 and a Q10 in five separate sections,, then combined using a custom center section and titanium fasteners.

"This is an incredibly exciting and important project for us as we get a glimpse into what the future of wheel design holds,” said HRE President Alan Peltier. “Working with GE Additive’s AddWorks team gave us access to the latest additive technology and an amazing team of engineers, allowing us to push the boundaries of wheel design beyond anything possible with current methods. To HRE, this partnership with GE Additive moves us into the future.”

“HRE prides itself on its commitment to excellence and superior quality in the marketplace. It was a natural fit for AddWorks to work on this project with them and really revolutionize the way wheels can be designed and manufactured,” said Robert Hanet, senior design engineer, GE Additive AddWorks


EBM Printing: Electron Beam Melting is an additive technology that uses and electron beam to melt and fuse fine layers of titanium powder into a solid. These fine layers are built up one at a time to create the full design.
45126039814_7ee8905229_z.jpg
45126039834_76a857024d_z.jpg
44033973170_0ba813b4b2_z.jpg


Titanium Powder Bed: The additive design is built up in a bed of fine titanium powder which results in very little wasted material, unlike traditional subtractive methods like machining from a solid forging.
31979571168_9cdf5072a4_b.jpg


Powder Recovery: The excess titanium powder is removed to reveal the final design and recycled for future parts.
45850638241_4aff984d49_c.jpg

45850637691_c470375c40_c.jpg


Support Removal: Temporary internal support structures are printed along with the part to provide support to the structure and to facilitate extremely complex designs. These are removed by hand and recycled after printing.
30911380567_dc5fe345c8_b.jpg


Post Machining: Mating surfaces and threads were CNC machined post-printing to ensure tight tolerances of assembly. Compared to traditional machining from forgings, this post-processing is minimal.
45126038784_1740509be4_c.jpg
45850638531_1efabc1433_c.jpg


Hand Finishing: The tops of the spokes were hand brushed to create a beautiful decorative finish. Because Titanium has excellent corrosion resistance, no additional powder-coat or clear-coat was necessary.
45126038394_9b24f4a02c_z.jpg
30911382767_2af42384f2_z.jpg
30911379927_61842d190b_z.jpg
45850638171_91f8b3a7e7_z.jpg
45126039354_2b002108fa_z.jpg


Cleaning: Due to the minimal machining and finishing, cleaning is a simple process simply to remove any oils or remaining powder.
45850637841_3bc13b7a2c_c.jpg
45850638591_d344044c90_c.jpg


Assembly: All the parts were hand-assembled into a carbon-fiber rim barrel using titanium fasteners.

45850638301_5cf74cd113_b.jpg

45126039434_8982eafb17_b.jpg

45126039624_f996131c8e_b.jpg

45126039784_331f040cbe_b.jpg

30911379167_bdef5f3396_b.jpg

45850638511_eff4019495_b.jpg

31979571368_5cfcd53e14_b.jpg

45126038984_663ee32270_b.jpg


45850638341_b762142f33_b.jpg

45850638331_e4f84ea9de_b.jpg

31979571268_fab14319fd_b.jpg

45126038614_f521e8752b_b.jpg

45126039184_1d212d32f5_b.jpg


45850638451_259d6734ba_b.jpg

30911382147_a3012c03bb_b.jpg

30911382337_c4ddf8f802_b.jpg

44033972570_ff129b5c67_b.jpg

44033972840_9df59991f1_b.jpg

30911380147_52f0cd9977_b.jpg

45850638401_f39de4834b_b.jpg

30911381497_68b16e1982_b.jpg

31979571318_7223a9af8f_b.jpg

45126039544_031d48beb0_b.jpg

45850637611_c9386a727b_b.jpg


The “HRE3D+” wheel will be on display from November 13-16 on GE Additive’s booth (D30) at the form next tradeshow in Frankfurt, Germany. For more information on HRE Wheels, visit https://www.hrewheels.com/wheels/concepts/hre3d

About HRE Performance Wheels:
HRE designs, engineers and manufactures 3-piece and 1-piece forged aluminum alloy wheels for Racing, Performance & Luxury cars and SUVs in their San Diego, California-based, TÜV-approved facility. HRE’s built-to-order wheel sets offer a customized choice of offsets, widths and finishes, resulting in a uniquely personal style and performance solution for each customer’s application. HRE wheels are sold through select high-end car dealerships, specialty retailers and performance companies worldwide. For more information, visit www.hrewheels.com or call an HRE wheel expert at (760) 598-1960.


About GE Additive:
GE Additive – part of GE (NYSE: GE) is a world leader in additive design and manufacturing, a pioneering process that has the power and potential to transform businesses. Through our integrated offering of AddWorks additive experts, advanced machines and quality materials, we empower our customers to build innovative new products. Products that solve manufacturing challenges, improve business outcomes and help change the world for the better. GE Additive includes additive machine providers Concept Laser and Arcam EBM; along with additive material provider AP&C. EBM machines create dimensionally accurate parts quickly and efficiently by using a high-power electron beam for high melting capacity and productivity. The EBM process takes place in vacuum and at high temperature, resulting in stress-relieved components with material properties better than cast and comparable to wrought material.
Sponsored

 

ZXERT

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2015
Threads
14
Messages
140
Reaction score
36
Location
United States
Vehicle(s)
2015 Mustang Ecoboost
The implications for technology like this are truly exciting. I am looking forward to watching it evolve and become more mainstream.
 

Sponsored

Turbolag87

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2018
Threads
8
Messages
214
Reaction score
45
Location
Toronto
Vehicle(s)
My18 gt
they are going to be LIGHT
 

69mach1-395

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2014
Threads
33
Messages
1,709
Reaction score
663
Location
central nm, usa
Vehicle(s)
2016 RR GT/CS
Yeah, but I don't want to clean those wheels...lol
 

BmacIL

Enginerd
Joined
Sep 21, 2014
Threads
69
Messages
15,010
Reaction score
8,920
Location
Naperville, IL
Vehicle(s)
2015 Guard GT Base, M/T
Vehicle Showcase
1
I love the tech, but that is a horrific looking wheel. 0/10 do not want.
 

Sponsored
OP
OP
FlowForm_Wheels

FlowForm_Wheels

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Threads
159
Messages
1,328
Reaction score
777
Location
Vista, CA
Website
www.hrewheels.com
First Name
HRE Wheels
Vehicle(s)
Mustang
We have answered some of your questions here with an "Ask Alan" segment. Hope you enjoy!



Thank you for taking a look!
 

HoosierDaddy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Threads
232
Messages
3,373
Reaction score
7,131
Location
Winchestertonfieldville (ok, Scottsdale), AZ
First Name
Randy
Vehicle(s)
2016 GT Premium PP
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
 




Top