Few wheels are as iconic as the TE37 set from RAYS. Installed on all manner of cars from Fords to Ferraris, they stay relevant for decades thanks to their well-conceived and versatile design. In this video, the manufacturer sheds light on the entire production process of these rims.
Each TE37 wheel starts its life as a simple aluminum billet. It is a solid piece of high-tensile 6061-grade aluminum. Before it can be forged and then machined into shape, it requires heating to a certain temperature.
Once heated up, the forging begins. The first stage aims to beat the billet into the approximate shape of a wheel. The second stage sees the spokes appear and the excess metal in between them removed. The third and final stage sees the structural parts of the wheel bent in the shape of the letter ‘U’ to ensure adequate strength and rigidity.
The wheel is then moved to a CNC machine, where its surface gets brushed or polished, the rim gets properly balanced and openings are bored for the valve and the mounting hardware. Any kinks and irregularities get carefully removed to prevent coating defects and corrosion.
The whole process ends with a stress test on a specialized stand, after which the wheel receives its finish, gets packaged up and shipped to the customer who ordered it.
The full video is 20 minutes long, but if you ever wanted an in-depth look at the manufacturing processes behind forged alloy wheels, be sure to give it a watch.
