VIDEO: RAYS Engineering - Crafting the Ultimate Forged Wheels

Whether they're gracing the asphalt of racetracks around the world or the tarmac of a local car meet, these wheels are instantly recognizable to enthusiasts and professionals alike. But what makes RAYS Engineering wheels a perennial favorite in the automotive industry? This article delves deep into the legacy, design philosophy, and the relentless pursuit of perfection that defines RAYS Engineering.

1. The Birth of a Wheel: Selecting the Material

Every masterpiece starts with a canvas. For RAYS, it's the aluminium 6061 alloy. These billets, or raw blocks of metal, are a blend of premium aluminium alloy, emphasising strength. But before any magic happens, they're heated to a scorching 500 degrees Celsius. Why? To make them malleable for the next step.

2. The Three-Stage Forging Dance

The heated billets undergo a three-stage mould forging process. Imagine taking a piece of clay and moulding it into a pancake. That's the first stage. The second stage further shapes this 'pancake', especially focusing on the spokes. By the third stage, the wheel's design is almost finalised, with U-shaped cross-sections characteristic of thin-walled forging. The pressure applied? A whopping 10,000 tons!

3. RM Forging Machine: The Final Touch

This machine, unique to RAYS, gives the wheel its final detailed shape. It's like the artist's final brushstroke, ensuring the wheel is not just functional but also a piece of art.

4. Heat Treatment: Maximising Potential

After forging, the wheels are heat-treated. This process, involving quenching and tempering, maximises the aluminium alloy's properties. The result? Even with a lightweight design, these wheels offer stellar steering stability and suspension stiffness.

5. Precision Machining: The Devil's in the Details

Every wheel undergoes meticulous machining, ensuring a balance within one one-thousandth of a millimetre. From drilling the air valve hole to ensuring the wheel's mounting points are perfect, no detail is too small.

6. The Finishing Touches: Painting and Polishing

Before these wheels hit the market, they're polished by hand and painted. RAYS even has a patented edge trimming method to improve corrosion resistance. And for those who love a bit of sparkle, some wheels undergo diamond cutting post-painting for that lustrous shine.

7. Rigorous Testing: Only the Best Make the Cut

Every wheel is methodically inspected for defects. They undergo durability tests, including the JWL standard impact test and drum endurance tests. Only those that pass RAYS' stringent Plus R standards get the certification sticker.

In conclusion, RAYS Engineering isn't just manufacturing wheels; they're crafting masterpieces. Through a blend of advanced technology, meticulous attention to detail, and a passion for perfection, they continue to set the gold standard in the world of forged wheels.