We were asked to help Dimma UK, to reimagine an iconic 1980s Dimma wheel design for the “40th Anniversary Modern Dimma 205-300ps Carbon” – a high-performance car.
The goal was to create a contemporary design that took its ques from the original 3-piece wheel design of the 1980’s. Terry Prankhurst the owner of Dimma is a good friend and entrusted us to work on this project for him.
We needed to aesthetically look back to the original 205 3-piece wheel created in the 80’s and revamp it into a modern classic for Dimma’s new car.
The design needed to not only look spot on but needed to withstand the stresses of high-speed driving, accommodate large disk brakes, and work with modern profile tyres.
The project started with us having a brew and a good old chat about the intricacies of wheel design and what Terry wanted from the wheel on a performance level and also an aesthetic level. We compiled all this into a specification list to be used throughout the process.
In-Depth Research and Analysis: We started the design process by taking apart (well we ended up cutting them up) old wheels modern wheels, examining tyre profiles, measuring the brakes and space on the car for the wheels to sit. This reverse engineering process formed the backbone of the input data for CAD modelling.
3D CAD Modeling and Design Exploration: We used SolidWorks 3D CAD software to explore various design options from an aesthetic and functional perspective. This iterative process underwent several rounds until we settled on a design we were happy with. As with all projects at Mouse, Dimma UK (Terry Pankhurst) were involved in approving the key steps along the way.
Rigorous FEA Analysis: The final step was to complete Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a process that allowed us to simulate the loads and forces exerted on the wheel during use. This allowed us to maintain high strength within the wheel at critical parts while we completed a lightweighting process around these areas.
Overcoming Challenges: Balancing Aesthetics and Performance
The largest challenge on this project was balancing aesthetic appeal with critical performance requirements of a high-performance wheel.
Defining Clear Design Specifications
A few of the key specifications to get the wheel design right were:
The result: Two unique 18-inch deep dish alloy wheel designs to compliment the styling and performance of the “40th Anniversary Modern Dimma 205-300ps Carbon.”
Looking to bring your next automotive design vision to life? Contact us today to discuss your project and explore how our expertise can help you achieve your goals.
