An English Wheel is a sheet metal fabrication tool that renders curves to metal sheets made from steel or aluminum. This tool is exceedingly useful in operations such as building customized vehicle bodies, making fuel tanks, and even in creating art installations. All of these operations stand to benefit from the use of this simple machine.
This machine is also sometimes referred to as a wheeling machine in countries outside of the United Nations. A single machine can be used for shaping several different panels made from sheet metals of varied thicknesses. Fabricators using this machine need to be provided basic training in order to start creating simple panels. The wheeling machine can be used for creating compound curves. It offers unmatched flexibility in producing panels with different curvatures. In fact, the English wheel is also extensively used in creating prototypes of bikes, cars, and even airplane parts. In addition to aluminum and stainless steel, this machine can also be used for creating compound curves on metals such as brass, mild steel, and copper.
The workings of an English Wheel
This machine works in a very simple way. It comprises two wheels through which a sheet of metal is passed. The lower wheel of this machine is referred to as the anvil wheel. As a sheet of metal passes through the two wheels, the pressure exerted by the wheels on the sheet metal cause the metal thickness to reduce. As the thickness reduces, the metal simultaneously gains a curvature that is identical to the curvature of the wheels it is passing through.
Conventionally, a hammer-dolly combination has been used for this purpose. But this entirely manual sheet metal shaping task takes a lot of time, and doesn"t always ensure consistent results. But with the use of a wheeling machine, it is possible to create curved panels in a short time.
Things to know about the wheels of the wheeling machine
The performance of a wheeling machine depends on the crown of the two wheels through which sheet metal passes. The higher the crown of the wheeling machine, the deeper is the curve. If you need slightly flat curves, then you should use a flatter wheel. This machine comprises wheels with different crowns. Thus, depending on the exact curvature that you need, you could choose a particular anvil wheel and attach it to the work area. These wheels can be changed in a jiffy, thus enabling you to achieve compound curves of various depths.
Owing to these very reasons, a wheeling machine has emerged as a popular machine with metal fabrication shops, automobile restoration shops, art studios, and prototyping firms. Initially, it takes a couple of hours to understand the workings of an English Wheel. But once the fabricator has learnt to use this machine, it is possible to create several panels in a short time.
This machine is also sometimes referred to as a wheeling machine in countries outside of the United Nations. A single machine can be used for shaping several different panels made from sheet metals of varied thicknesses. Fabricators using this machine need to be provided basic training in order to start creating simple panels. The wheeling machine can be used for creating compound curves. It offers unmatched flexibility in producing panels with different curvatures. In fact, the English wheel is also extensively used in creating prototypes of bikes, cars, and even airplane parts. In addition to aluminum and stainless steel, this machine can also be used for creating compound curves on metals such as brass, mild steel, and copper.
The workings of an English Wheel
This machine works in a very simple way. It comprises two wheels through which a sheet of metal is passed. The lower wheel of this machine is referred to as the anvil wheel. As a sheet of metal passes through the two wheels, the pressure exerted by the wheels on the sheet metal cause the metal thickness to reduce. As the thickness reduces, the metal simultaneously gains a curvature that is identical to the curvature of the wheels it is passing through.
Conventionally, a hammer-dolly combination has been used for this purpose. But this entirely manual sheet metal shaping task takes a lot of time, and doesn"t always ensure consistent results. But with the use of a wheeling machine, it is possible to create curved panels in a short time.
Things to know about the wheels of the wheeling machine
The performance of a wheeling machine depends on the crown of the two wheels through which sheet metal passes. The higher the crown of the wheeling machine, the deeper is the curve. If you need slightly flat curves, then you should use a flatter wheel. This machine comprises wheels with different crowns. Thus, depending on the exact curvature that you need, you could choose a particular anvil wheel and attach it to the work area. These wheels can be changed in a jiffy, thus enabling you to achieve compound curves of various depths.
Owing to these very reasons, a wheeling machine has emerged as a popular machine with metal fabrication shops, automobile restoration shops, art studios, and prototyping firms. Initially, it takes a couple of hours to understand the workings of an English Wheel. But once the fabricator has learnt to use this machine, it is possible to create several panels in a short time.