Ring rolling with variable wall thickness

Year: 
2016
Authors: 
C. J. Cleaver, M. R. Arthington, S. Mortazavi, J. M. Allwood
Highlights: 

Ring rolling processes today produce axisymmetric rings, wasting material, energy and labour if non-axisymmetric components are required. A new process is proposed to roll rings with variable wall thickness. In this work, roll gaps and speeds are controlled online in physical experiments to achieve a defined variable wall thickness, enabled by photogrammetry to capture the ring’s shape and position.

Abstract: 

Ring rolling processes today produce axisymmetric rings, wasting material, energy and labour if non-axisymmetric components such as eccentric bearing races and bossed pipe fittings are required. A new process is proposed to roll rings with variable wall thickness. In this work, roll gaps and speeds are controlled online in physical experiments to achieve a defined variable wall thickness, enabled by photogrammetry to capture the ring's shape and position. The trials revealed two new process limits for which new analytical explanations have been developed: a maximum rate of change of thickness around the circumference and a loss of circularity.