Curious about how trains work internally? Ever wondered how those steel train wheels are made? This article will delve into the detailed process of manufacturing train wheels, accompanying you on a journey to unveil the mystery behind their production.

1.Choosing the raw materials for railway wheels

Railroad wheels are typically made from carbon steel. Specific material grades include ER6, ER7, ER8, ER9, R7T, R8T, R9T, and CL60.

2.Melting metal for train wheels.

Manufacturing train wheels starts with melting metal, using electric furnaces to melt the selected metal at high temperatures. The melted metal forms the raw material for subsequent wheel manufacturing.

Pour the molten metal into cylindrical molds to form large steel ingots.

3.Cut the steel ingots

Cut the ingots into approximately 450-kilogram pieces for further processing into individual train wheel products.

4.Heating the steel billets

The rail wheel blanks are heated in a rotary furnace to 8000 degrees Celsius, preparing them for subsequent forging and rolling steps.The wheel blanks are heated in a rotary furnace to 800 degrees Celsius, preparing them for subsequent forging and rolling steps.

5.Forging and rolling train wheels

After heating, the wheel blank undergoes forging and rolling processes. Immense pressure is applied by the rolling mill to shape the blank, rolling it into the rough form of a train wheel. The rolling process ensures the resulting wheel meets the required dimensions.

6.Slow Cooling of Train Wheels:

The newly formed train wheels need to undergo slow cooling to eliminate internal stress and enhance the overall structural integrity.

7.Heating and hardening of train wheel blanks

The train wheels are reheated and subjected to high-pressure water chambers to remove rust and ensure surface cleanliness. Subsequently, the wheels undergo a hardening process, rapidly cooled to increase hardness.

8.Railroad wheel testing:

Each railroad wheel undergoes rigorous quality control testing, including dimension inspection, hardness testing, as well as various non-destructive testing methods such as ultrasonic inspection, magnetic particle inspection, etc. These tests ensure that railroad wheels meet industry standards and are free from defects.

9.Turning processing of train wheels

Turning processing of train wheels on a lathe to ensure they meet the dimensional requirements specified by the customer.

10.Marking of train wheels

Each train wheel is stamped with the manufacturer's logo or other identifying marks for the purpose of tracing product origin and quality control.

11.Packaging and storage of train wheels:

Once the railroad wheels pass quality control, manufacturers will pack them in stacks of five using screw-type packaging and carefully store them in warehouses, awaiting shipment to their destination.