Wheel assembly and method for making same

An apparatus for preparing a flange surface of a wheel hub in combination with the wheel hub, the apparatus comprising:

• i) a first component mounting the wheel hub and for rotating the wheel hub about a first axis of rotation, the wheel hub having first and second flange portions with first and second flange surfaces, respectively;
• and
• ii) a second component including a grind wheel, wherein the second component rotates the grind wheel about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation enclose an acute angle;
• wherein the grind wheel includes an inner lip and an outer lip including first and second grind surfaces, respectively, for grinding the first and second flange portions, the first and second grind surfaces both being perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, the inner and outer lip defining a channel therebetween, the channel receiving the wheel bolts of the wheel hub when the first and second grind surfaces finish the first and second flange surfaces on the wheel hub.

An apparatus for preparing a flange surface of a wheel hub in combination with the wheel hub, the apparatus comprising:

• i) a first component mounting the wheel hub, the wheel hub having a plurality of wheel bolts and having a first flange portion and a second flange portion with first and second flange surfaces, respectively, wherein the first component rotates the wheel hub in a first axis of rotation and the first and second flange portions are perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, and the first flange portion is located interior to a cylindrical region defined by a portion of the wheel bolts closest to the first axis of rotation;
• and
• ii) a second component including a milling tool, wherein the second component rotates the milling tool about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are fixed, parallel and sufficiently offset so that the milling tool mills the first and second flange portions;
• wherein the milling tool has first and second ground surfaces generally perpendicular to the first axis of rotation for finishing the first and second flange surfaces, respectively, and further includes first and second lips, defining a channel therebetween, the channel receiving the wheel bolts of the wheel hub when the first and second grind surfaces finish the first and second flange surfaces of the wheel hub.

An apparatus for preparing surfaces of a wheel hub in combination with the wheel hub, the wheel hub including first and second flange portions including first and second flange surfaces, respectively, the first and second flange surfaces being circular, the wheel hub further including a plurality of wheel bolts radially positioned between the first and second flange surfaces, comprising:

• i) a first component for mounting a wheel hub wherein the first component rotates the wheel hub in a first axis of rotation and the first and second flange surfaces are perpendicular to the first axis of rotation;
• and
• ii) a second component including a milling tool, wherein the second component rotates the milling tool about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are fixed, parallel and sufficiently offset so that the milling tool mills the first and second flange portions;
• wherein the milling tool has first and second grind surfaces generally perpendicular to the first axis of rotation for finishing the first and second flange surfaces, respectively, the milling tool defining a channel receiving the wheel bolts of the wheel hub when the first and second grind surfaces finish the first and second flange surfaces of the wheel hub.