Titanium Wheel Lug Project...
07-24-2004, 05:58 PM
#26
beyond the ultraworld
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, been on holiday, there is a thread on here with them, they are from an italian company, rebadged by www.wheelmania.co.uk - Vermont.
07-24-2004, 06:21 PM
#27
I looked up liquidmetal, the results on this site basically said the liquidmetal knife sucked ***.
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/kn..._model_10.html
BTW, LM1 is made up of about 41 percent zirconium, about 14 percent titanium, about 12.5
percent copper, about 10 percent nickel, and about 22.5 percent beryllium
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/kn..._model_10.html
The performance would benefit greatly from a decently tough carbon steel, something like A2 or O1, both of which are also far harder than LM1
percent copper, about 10 percent nickel, and about 22.5 percent beryllium
Last edited by JasonHamilton; 07-24-2004 at 06:26 PM.
07-24-2004, 06:38 PM
#28
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Boulder County, Colorado
Posts: 7,966
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
3 Posts
Originally Posted by BaronVonBigmeat
Speaking of Titanium alloys, has anyone heard of this crazy "Liquidmetal" stuff, titanium w/ the crystal structure of glass?
Hmm...if a regular 18" aluminum wheel is say...20 lbs., then I would imagine you could make LiquidMetal wheels that were 10 lbs. each :drools:...expensive yes, but you might not need any machining, they come out of the mold super shiny, and eventually the price is bound to drop.
Hmm...if a regular 18" aluminum wheel is say...20 lbs., then I would imagine you could make LiquidMetal wheels that were 10 lbs. each :drools:...expensive yes, but you might not need any machining, they come out of the mold super shiny, and eventually the price is bound to drop.
Cort, if money is no object, will you buy me some liguid metal wheels? :D
07-24-2004, 10:38 PM
#29
Senor Carnegrande
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was on another board and someone had posted a link to a story which basically said that they've started their first bit of casting using a primarily aluminum alloy. As in, "not based primarily on exotic/expensive alloys". Too bad the company management is having trouble getting their **** together.
Oh and it can be made into a sort of "metallic styrofoam":
http://www.liquidmetal.com/news/dsp.news.04x204.asp
Actually, while they're at it...they can whip up some liquidmetal brake rotors too, along with my wheels. Aren't pretty much all brake rotors still just carbon steel?
Oh and it can be made into a sort of "metallic styrofoam":
http://www.liquidmetal.com/news/dsp.news.04x204.asp
Better yet, it can be readily made into a foam. “With most metals that’s difficult, because the bubbles want to rise to the surface of the molten metal,” says Johnson. The fact that amorphous metal is thick and like plastic when molten permits the formation of a foam panel that is 99 percent air but roughly 100 times stronger than polystyrene. A sandwich made of two thin sheets of amorphous metal flanking amorphous foam would be strong, light, insulating, fireproof, bug-proof, rustproof, sound dampening, and difficult to penetrate with bombs. Such panel could form buildings, ship hulls, airplanes, and car bodies.
Actually, while they're at it...they can whip up some liquidmetal brake rotors too, along with my wheels. Aren't pretty much all brake rotors still just carbon steel?
08-10-2004, 03:00 PM
#30
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, the prototype bolts should be here Friday; they have been tested along with a stock one and proved to be very strong and much lighter. I will post more details when they get here along with pictures and the install...
08-11-2004, 04:48 AM
#33
cortc go to www.dba.com.au and request they make some 
I already have but they arn't planning in it to the new year
maybe a few more voices and they will do them sooner.
I already have but they arn't planning in it to the new year
maybe a few more voices and they will do them sooner.
08-13-2004, 09:33 AM
#36
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I will contact them and see if I can get them to make them sooner...
Ok, I just received the prototype lug nuts, very nice! I will take pictures and post tonight; the install is tomorrow as well as some specs...
They weigh much less than the stock ones and we made them out of T4; they are forged with machined threads... The production ones will be completely forged including the threads and heat treated...
We tested them against the stock ones for several load factors including shear and they held up quite well (All test came in within 93% and a few were equal or better...) so now I will road test them...
Ok, I just received the prototype lug nuts, very nice! I will take pictures and post tonight; the install is tomorrow as well as some specs...
They weigh much less than the stock ones and we made them out of T4; they are forged with machined threads... The production ones will be completely forged including the threads and heat treated...
We tested them against the stock ones for several load factors including shear and they held up quite well (All test came in within 93% and a few were equal or better...) so now I will road test them...
Last edited by cortc; 08-17-2004 at 04:59 PM.
08-13-2004, 02:26 PM
#38
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, the stock ones are just over 2oz each (2.1oz) will double check tonight... So that is 10.5oz total for 5... The titanium ones are 47% lighter and they include a really nice speed starter; pictures should be up tonight...
08-13-2004, 02:40 PM
#39
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well some rough numbers:
Savings per corner = 5.7oz
Total savings for all four corners = 22.8oz or almost 1.5lbs savings...
These are really cool, lighter, about 5mm longer, strong and have a nice speed starter...
Install and practical testing begin this weekend and the productions ones wil be even stronger... (Completely forged and heat treated...)
I am working out some qty pricing so stay tuned...
Savings per corner = 5.7oz
Total savings for all four corners = 22.8oz or almost 1.5lbs savings...
These are really cool, lighter, about 5mm longer, strong and have a nice speed starter...
Install and practical testing begin this weekend and the productions ones wil be even stronger... (Completely forged and heat treated...)
I am working out some qty pricing so stay tuned...
Some pics...
08-15-2004, 12:16 AM
#47
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You have to remove the front and rear spindles and support them around the lugs to remove the stock ones... You can press them out or hit them with a hammer carefully; you cannot hit them with a hammer or put impact pressure on the bearings as you will destroy the bearings and the bearing chase...
The fronts are easier than the rears as the fronts can be removed bearings and all with four bolts (Very cool...), the rears have to come apart...
The fronts are easier than the rears as the fronts can be removed bearings and all with four bolts (Very cool...), the rears have to come apart...
08-15-2004, 12:26 AM
#48
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cgrx: Thanks, I did all the drawings and specs myself so that saved me some dollars, the prototype came out to about U$620.00... The production ones will run about U$300.00-320.00 for a set of 20... if I make enough I can probably get them down to U$250.00-275.00...
This is the only RX8 right now with titanium lugs, and with the new wheels and two piece brake rotors as well as the light weight forged lug nuts she is going to handle and spin up real nice...
Plus it looks really cool and should rack up a bunch of points at the shows...
This is the only RX8 right now with titanium lugs, and with the new wheels and two piece brake rotors as well as the light weight forged lug nuts she is going to handle and spin up real nice...
Plus it looks really cool and should rack up a bunch of points at the shows...
08-17-2004, 03:32 PM
#49
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, did some more calculations on weight reduction including the light forged lug nuts I have on the car...
Stock lug nut 2oz (2x5=10oz per corner) 10x4=40oz or 2.5lbs...
Forged lug nuts 1oz (1x5=5oz per corner) 5x4=20oz or 1.25lbs...
That is another 1 1/4 lbs savings in unsprung rotating weight, including the 1 1/2 lbs savings of the titanium lug bolts that is a total of 2 3/4 lbs...
When rotating at high speed that weight increases by a factor of 7 or 19.25lbs...
I took the car out for a ride with the stock lugs and bolts before doing the install and then with the titanium lug bolts and lightweight forged lug nuts and there was a difference you could feel... With the new wheels and two piece brake rotors this should really lighten things up.
So for those that ask, does reduced unsprung weight or rotating unsprung weight reduction make a difference?; the answer is yes...
Stock lug nut 2oz (2x5=10oz per corner) 10x4=40oz or 2.5lbs...
Forged lug nuts 1oz (1x5=5oz per corner) 5x4=20oz or 1.25lbs...
That is another 1 1/4 lbs savings in unsprung rotating weight, including the 1 1/2 lbs savings of the titanium lug bolts that is a total of 2 3/4 lbs...
When rotating at high speed that weight increases by a factor of 7 or 19.25lbs...
I took the car out for a ride with the stock lugs and bolts before doing the install and then with the titanium lug bolts and lightweight forged lug nuts and there was a difference you could feel... With the new wheels and two piece brake rotors this should really lighten things up.
So for those that ask, does reduced unsprung weight or rotating unsprung weight reduction make a difference?; the answer is yes...
