US Industrial English Wheel

English Wheel US1001 Standard Equipment:
Includes 3 standard wheels:
TP1001-1 Anvil wheel – 12″ radius
TP1001-2 Anvil wheel – 2 3/8″ radius
TP1001-3 Anvil wheel – 5″ radius

Optional Equipment:
Wheels complete with axle and bearing:
TP1001-4 Anvil wheel – 3 1/4″ radius
TP1001-5 Anvil wheel – 8 1/2″ radius
TP1001-6 Anvil wheel – Flat

The English Wheel – and how it works

The English Wheel has two steel wheels between which metal is formed. The wheels – one above and one below – are rolled against one another with a piece of sheet metal between, under a pre-adjusted pressure setting. The wheels roll as the sheet metal is moved back and forth. Shaping results as the lower wheel is forced under pressure into the metal, stretching and forming it.

It is especially useful on large panels and with the English Wheel, two men can produce very smooth and complicated curved shapes equally well on aluminium or steel.

The upper wheel – always with a flat rolling surface – is fixed to the machine. The curve, or crown, of the interchangeable lower wheel – the roller – determines the shape of the piece being formed. The more curve in the roller, the more curve in the work. An adjustment on the lower wheel varies the amount of pressure exerted against the metal by the roller. A knob below the roller sets this pressure. In addition to the pressure adjustment, US Industrial English Wheels have a quick-release lever which enables the operator to drop the roller away from the upper wheel so the work can be removed and inserted quickly without losing the pressure setting.

The US English Wheel is made in the USA by US Industrial Tool.

Using the English Wheel:

First, check to see how much curve you want in the metal panel. Choose a roller corresponding to that curve and install it in the machine. Insert the metal between the wheels. Adjust the roller so it has a slight amount of pressure against the work. Remember: Less pressure is needed to form aluminum than is needed for steel. The panel is pushed and pulled – back and forth – between the wheels. The first few passes – movement in either direction – will show if the pressure is right. If it is too light, the work will skid or slip between the wheels. If it’s too heavy, roller marks will show up in the work.

How a metal panel is moved between the wheels is very important. Each pass of the metal through the wheel must be so close to the previous one that they nearly overlap. Oherwise, the panel will stretch unevenly, making its surface wavy and irregular. So keep each pass very close to the previous one.

Because the US English Wheel is primarily a stretching machine, you must avoid running the edge of the work through the wheel. A stretched edge requires the extra work of shrinking – and shrinking is not easy.

Download the William Lees Tools Brochure for full product details

Get in touch today!
For orders and enquiries, contact us by telephone or email.
Callers within the UK, Tel: 01698 426662
Outwith the UK, Tel: +44 1698 426662