Rolling Process Chart
Rolling is a material processing method, which involves passing the metal between two rollers in order to form the material into desired shapes. Rolling is one of the most important Manufacturing processes, and number of different types of rolling processes exist, each of which is best suited to particular products and applications. The following chart provides an overview of the different kinds of rolling processes and their respective products:
Hot Rolling Processes
The most common rolling process is hot rolling, which is done with material heated to over 1000 degrees Celsius. This is done in order to be able to plasticize the material, so that it deforms easily, making the rolling process simpler. Hot rolling is divided into two categories:
Flat Rolling Processes
Flat rolling processes involve rolling material into a flat piece. This is usually done with steel, but other metals such as aluminum can also be rolled. The two main types of flat rolling processes are two-high rolling and four-high rolling. Two-high rolling involves two rolls of equal size, while four-high rolling involves four rolls, two of which are larger than the others. Flat rolling is used to make products such as sheets, plates and coils, and is also used to reduce the thickness of the material.
Shape Rolling Processes
Shape rolling processes involve rolling material into a particular shape. The most common type of shape rolling is known as profile rolling, which is used to form tubes and other products of particular shapes. Profiling is done by either preforming, in which grooves are cut before rolling, or postforming, in which the grooves are cut afterwards. Profile rolling is most commonly used to form pipes and tubes for the automotive and construction industries.
Thread Rolling Processes
Thread rolling processes involve rolling material into specific shapes, usually for the purpose of creating threads on bolts and other fasteners. Threads need to be highly precise, so a high degree of accuracy must be achieved in the thread rolling process. This is done by using highly specialized machines that are designed to produce threads at specific angles and shapes.
Specialty Rolling Processes
Specialty rolling processes are used for more specialized applications, such as extrusion, warm rolling and hot stretching. These methods are usually used to create products with highly specific shapes and needed strength, such as wires and tubes used in medical devices. These processes often involve the use of sophisticated machinery and require highly skilled operators.
Rolling is a key part of several manufacturing processes, and is used to produce a wide range of products. Different rolling processes are suited to different applications, so the rolling process has to be chosen carefully in order to achieve the desired results. The process chart above provides a basic overview of the different types of rolling processes, and their respective products.
