Brake Wheels
Xtek “Steel Safe” brake wheels are superior to all others because they are designed mechanically and metallurgically to provide long, safe operation. Each Xtek brake wheel is machined from forged steel and heat treated in our in-house furnaces to provide optimum wear and resistance to thermal cracking.
Contact us today to discuss your specific application and problem solving needs.
Steel vs. Iron – Material properties
The side effects of friction on a brake wheel during normal use can result in extreme stress. Wear, thermal fatigue and cracking may cause the wheel to fail catastrophically if not manufactured to withstand such stresses.
The successful performance of a brake wheel is strongly influenced by the material quality and hardening. Fatigue properties are adversely affected by material defects such as porosity, slag, inclusions, and a non-uniform microstructure. These are common defects found in castings and can lead to faster crack propagation and catastrophic failure.
An example of a container crane cast iron brake wheel failure:
Cast iron brake wheel failure.
Reconstruction of recovered portions of the fractured iron brake wheel.
Remaining hub portion of the iron brake wheel.- Rim failed catastrophically
- 26 pieces scattered with great force
- Consultant retained
- Other cranes inspected and cracking found
Xtek’s forged “Steel Safe” brake wheels have a more dense, more defect free wear surface as compared to cast iron brake wheels. Features that contribute to this superior quality and resistance to cracking include:
- Fracture toughness of a forged steel brake wheel is inherently superior to that of a cast iron brake wheel.
- Xtek forged steel brake wheels are made from vacuum degassed steel, which is cleaner, porosity-free, and has a more uniform microstructure than cast iron.
- The Xtek forged brake wheel can be carburized to provide a high carbon wear surface that will result in a substantial increase in the wear resistance of the wheel or heat treated to provide excellent wear and cracking resistance.
Contact us today to discuss your specific application and problem solving needs.
- Process
- Advantages
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Xtek Brake Wheels are:
- Manufactured from forged low carbon alloy steel, not cast steel or iron
- Dynamically machine balanced to minimize vibration
- Two-plane analysis
- Machined (no welded weights)
- Heat treated to withstand thermal fatigue
Advantages of Xtek forged brake wheels:
- High resistance to fracture (catastrophic failure)
- High resistance to wear
- High resistance to thermal cracking
- Delivery in 6-8 weeks, less when required
- Competitive price
To request a quote, contact us, or download the data sheet below and fax it to us.