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Our Wolf Tooth Parts manufacturing unit tour might not contain drones flying by means of their facility, however we get a a lot nearer have a look at how they machine their components in-house, from chainrings to dropper levers to instruments and extra!
And for those who look intently, you’ll see a teaser of THREE new components coming quickly from the Minnesota-based model. All three are model new classes for them, and we even caught sketches of a attainable line extension for his or her bottle cages! Suppose you possibly can spot them? Let’s go…
Positioned simply south of Minneapolis, Wolf Tooth Parts’ HQ doubles as their manufacturing unit for many of their parts. Bearings and such are introduced in from different distributors, and so they outsource a bit (extra on that under), however they machine nearly the whole lot else in-house.
If we tour following the workflow, we begin on the again the place uncooked supplies are acquired, checked, and stocked. Completely different dimension plates and bars of aluminum sit ready to be was light-weight chainrings, seatpost binders, mini instruments, and extra.
Hmmm, surprise what these thinner rods might be for? Are they even aluminum?
On the finish of the staging space is the machine store, stuffed with lathes and mills, and so they preserve including new machines to maintain up with demand. Typically they use a mix of machines to complete a single half, permitting them to create intricate shapes, like on their DropStop narrow-wide chainrings’ tooth profiles.
A lot of what they promote is made right here, even small components like a Centerlock disc brake rotor lock ring. These are recent out of the machine, however they’ll be despatched off for anodizing right into a rainbow of colours.
Some machines run 24/7, dropping components into a set tray as they end…
…with robots feeding new blanks in and pulling completed components out as we people sleep.
As soon as an element is made, they’re put into tumbling machines with varied mediums to clean any sharp, tough edges. This polishes them, too, so the anodization is sweet and glossy.
The laser etching machine was the primary machine they purchased and lived in Mike’s basement for years earlier than they acquired their very own constructing.
Within the early days, they outsourced the machining of the chainrings to 2 completely different native outlets. They nonetheless use these two outlets, and have solely elevated quantity with them at the same time as they’ve added increasingly functionality and capability in-house.
As soon as the components come again from anodization, which is without doubt one of the solely main steps not accomplished right here, they’re organized and staged for meeting. Lots of Wolf Tooth’s meeting machines, holders, and instruments are made in-house, both machined or 3D printed.
Their seatpost binders are slid onto a pin that’s pushed up by air, so it received’t jab the half if the assembler doesn’t line up the opening accurately…that means, it received’t scratch the ano and find yourself of their periodic Scratch & Dent gross sales.
Headsets are dealt with equally, with higher and decrease cups of each colour mendacity in look forward to the proper bearing dimension. A lot of those are made to order because it’s fast and simple to prep and ship, and since there are such a lot of choices and decisions of colours.
Their 8-Bit System of multitools use magnets to remain closed and/or stack collectively…
…so that they sourced a Tremendous Glue pump and applicator to use a drop into the recess, then a pneumatic magnet applicator to push the proper dimension and form magnet into place. It might not look fancy, nevertheless it will get the job accomplished rapidly and precisely.
Initially, they outsourced manufacturing of their Morse Cage bottle cages (that are glorious), however that very-well-known bottle cage maker merely couldn’t sustain along with his personal demand, so that they got here up with their very own course of and enhance on the design. Now, they bend and tack their very own cages proper right here.
Their chain lube is now bottled off-site, however that is how they acquired began. It’s nonetheless used in the event that they’re low on stock and want some additional to meet orders, however this workstation doesn’t see a lot motion today.
Wolf Tooth acquired the RedMonkey grip line some time again and now promote their foam grips in quite a lot of colours in a number of thicknesses.
As soon as the whole lot’s prepped, assembled, and labeled, it’s despatched to this man to pack and ship. That’s most of what occurs within the warehouse, however first let’s dip into the cubicles…
Behind closed doorways is the place we discovered just a few people designing new issues…
Hmmm, surprise what they’re engaged on? Go away your guesses within the feedback!
Otso Cycles is right here, too
Sister model Otso Cycles shares house right here, too, the place bikes are outfitted with loads of WTC items. A sequence meeting stations allow them to construct to order and check the bikes earlier than re-packing them to ship to the client.
Naturally, there are many Wolf Tooth Parts to select from to improve your journey. Even the Tuning Chip rear dropouts are designed by Wolf Tooth (and had been initially made in home, however not any extra), and are proprietary to their frames. They’ve not too long ago added a number of new choices for SRAM cranksets, together with 8-bolt direct mount chainrings and the 107BCD rings proven right here.
Match the headset and spacers in black…
…or no matter colour you need, on no matter equipment you need.
Large due to (L to R) Dan, Brendan, and Mike for displaying us round (and the gravel journey and burritos that adopted).
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