Vehicle wheel rim polisher

A method for polishing a wheel rim including a central wheel disc, annular tire retaining flanges extending therefrom and a tire mounted between the tire retaining flanges, the method comprising:

• providing a vehicle wheel rim polisher including a spindle with a mounting end, the spindle being drivable to rotate the mounting end about an axis of rotation, a polishing head support and movement mechanism including a polishing head connector and being moveable to move the polishing head connector at least substantially radially relative to, and substantially parallel with, the axis of rotation and an automation system including a function for accepting a radial inner position of the head connector, a function for accepting a radial outer position for the head connector and position control system to maintain the polishing head connector in a selected position with reference to the surface over which polishing is occurring such that the polishing head connector maintains an operating force within a desired range, the operating force being that generated between any polishing head on the polishing head connector and a vehicle wheel rim, the position control system actuating to drive the polishing head connector in a direction having at least a component parallel to the axis of rotation to maintain the operating force at the polishing head connector within the desired range;
• mounting the wheel rim on the mounting end to rotate about the axis;
• mounting a polishing head on polishing head connector;
• setting the radial outer position to a position adjacent an annular tire retaining flange of the rim and setting the radial inner position to a position radially inwardly of the annular tire retaining flange on the central wheel disc;
• and operating the polisher to rotate the rim about the axis of rotation and to drive the polishing head against the wheel rim with the operating force within the desired range while the polishing head cycles radially between the radial outer position and the radial inner position.