Three-Roll Tube Rolling Technology
Three-roll tube rolling technology is a kind of metal forming process which is used to produce seamless steel tubes and pipes. It takes appropriate steel billets as input material, and then through a series of precise processes, these billets will be gradually rolled and shaped into tubing.
The modern three-roll tube rolling technology is based on an industrial rolling mill, which consists of a set of over three rolls and three grooved drums that are mounted on the same axles. The complete mill usually contains the drive unit, the processing line and the cooling fan. All the components of the rolling mill will work in unison towards the goal of creating the desired shape of a tube or pipe.
The three-roll process has a long history and is widely used in industries. The advantages of this process include high productivity, precision and cost effectiveness. It produces high-quality products with minimal manpower and minimal resources.
During the tube rolling process, the steel billets are first heated in a furnace to a predetermined temperature and then fed into the tube rolling mill. The material passes through the first two rolls, which are both driven and set at a much higher speed than the third one. These two high speed rolls press the raw billets at a given speed and pressure, which is necessary to make them into tube. At this time, the billets start to form an oval circumference.
The third roll is driven at a constant speed and is known as a follower roll. The follower roll helps to adjust the gap between the two rolls and to achieve the desired radius of the products. In the end, the round shape of the tube is done.
To ensure a satisfactory production, it is important to pay attention to various parameters such as the speed of the rolls, the pressure applied and the temperature of the steel billets. The tube rolling speed is an important factor that influences the quality of the product. If the speed is too fast, it will increase the internal stresses of the tube wall and may result in an uneven surface. Conversely, if the speed is too slow, the product will be shorter and may incur more defects.
The pressure applied is also essential to ensure that the shape of the product is correctly formed. An adequate pressure must be applied to ensure proper results. In addition, the temperature of the rolling process should also be properly regulated. Generally, it is best to keep the temperature as low as possible. Too low or too high of a temperature could cause problems such as cracking or warping.
The three-roll tube rolling process has been proven to be an efficient way to produce high-quality tubes and pipes. With careful consideration towards the parameters of the process, factories are able to produce accurate and well-finished products that meet their needs.
