Steckel Rolling Mill Workshop Design
Introduction
The Steckel mill is a hot rolling plate reduction mill used to rollstrip, plate and wire rod. This type of mill works by passing a heated slab of metal through a series of rollers, where it is cooled, stretched, thinned and reshaped. The Steckel mill is a specialized design of rolling mill, primarily for producing thin and heavy plates, typically used in shipbuilding and automobile industries. This paper will outline the design and operation of the Steckel mill and its components.
Design of the Steckel Mill
The Steckel Mill typically consists of two independent units: a stand-alone mill and a finishing mill. The stand-alone mill is used to pre-process the metal slab, while the finishing mill is used to finish the product. Both mills use a series of 4 to 6 rollers in order to shape the metal. The first 4 rollers in the stand-alone mill are known as the breakdown rollers and the last two rollers in the finishing mill are known as the finishing rollers.
The Steckel mill is usually positioned near the ingot casting facility to ensure the material is as straight and smooth as possible at the beginning of the rolling process. The slabs of metal are poured into the mill in the heated state and are then fed through the rollers to reduce the thickness of the metal. The rollers apply pressure to the metal, stretching and thinning it until the desired thickness is achieved.
The rollers used in the Steckel mill are usually made from alloyed steel and are cambered to ensure that theslab is always supported by one roller as it passes through the mill. The rollers are also water cooled to ensure that they do not overheat during the rolling process. The size of the rollers and their positions can be adjusted in order to adjust the shape of the metal sheet.
Operation of the Steckel Mill
The operation of the Steckel mill typically follows the same general pattern. The slabs of metal are first loaded into the mill and are then fed through the break-down rollers. The rollers reduce the thickness of the metal and the resulting product is then sent to the finishing rollers. The finishing rollers are used to further reduce the thickness of the metal and to also shape it into the desired shape.
Once the metal has reached the desired thickness and shape it is then cooled using a variety of techniques. The cooling techniques used depend on the type of shape being produced, but include quenching, water spray and air cooling. The cooled metal is then inspected for defects before being packaged for sale.
Conclusion
The Steckel mill is an important type of rolling mill used in the production of thin and heavy plates. It consists of two independent units: a stand-alone mill and a finishing mill. The stand-alone mill is used to pre-process the metal slab, while the finishing mill is used to shape and finish the product. The rollers of the mill are cambered and water cooled to ensure that the metal is efficiently and safely shaped. The Steckel mill is an efficient way to produce metal sheets of various shapes and sizes.
