Bike Brake Disc Materials Table
| Material | Characteristics | Common Material Standards | Material Grade/Number | American Material Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | – Excellent corrosion resistance<br>- Good strength and wear resistance<br>- High braking performance | ASTM A240, ASTM A276, ASTM A582 | X8CrNiS18-9 (1.4305) | AISI 303 |
| Aluminum Alloy | – Lightweight design<br>- Good thermal conductivity<br>- Lower braking performance | ASTM B209, ASTM B211 | 6061-T6 | AA 6061 |
| Carbon Fiber | – Extremely lightweight design<br>- Excellent fatigue resistance<br>- Higher cost | – | – | – |
| Titanium Alloy | – Good strength and corrosion resistance<br>- Lightweight design<br>- High cost | ASTM B265, ASTM B348 | Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | AMS 4928 |
How is a bike brake disc produced?
- Casting:
- Sand Casting: This traditional method involves creating a mold made of sand into which molten metal is poured. After cooling and solidification, the mold is broken, and the casting removed. Sand casting is suitable for producing brake discs from materials like aluminum alloy and cast iron.
- Investment Casting: Also known as lost-wax casting, this method involves creating a wax pattern of the brake disc, surrounding it with a ceramic shell, and then melting the wax to leave a cavity. Molten metal is poured into the cavity, and once it solidifies, the ceramic shell is broken away. Investment casting is often used for producing intricate shapes and can be suitable for materials like stainless steel and titanium alloy.
- Machining:
- CNC Machining: Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines are used to remove material from a solid block or billet of metal to create the shape of the brake disc. This method offers precise control over dimensions and surface finish. It is commonly used for materials like stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and titanium alloy.
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Modern hydraulic high-precision bending machine. CNC machine tool. - Laser Cutting: Laser cutting machines can be used to precisely cut brake discs from sheet metal or plate material. This method is fast and efficient but may require additional processing steps to achieve the desired surface finish and dimensional accuracy.
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Close-up scene the fiber laser cutting machine cutting machine cut the metal plate. The hi-technology sheet metal manufacturing process by laser cutting machine.
After the brake discs are produced, they undergo additional processes such as heat treatment, surface finishing (e.g., grinding, polishing), and quality inspection to ensure they meet the required specifications for performance, durability, and safety. Finally, they are installed on the bike’s wheel hub as part of the braking system.