Ring rolling is a specialized type of hot rolling that increases the diameter of a ring. The starting material is a thick-walled ring.
This workpiece is placed between two rolls, an inner idler roll and a driven roll, which presses the ring from the outside. As the rolling occurs, continuous pressure reduces the wall thickness and as a result, the ring diameter increases. The axial rolls control the height of the ring as it is being rolled. The process continues until the desired size is achieved.
The rolls may be shaped to form various cross-sectional shapes. The resulting grain structure is circumferential, which gives better mechanical properties. Diameters can be as large as 8 m (26 ft) and face heights as tall as 2 m (79 in).
Rolled rings are used in bearings, slewing bearings, turbine disks or in gear blanks. Wheel rolling machines produce solid wheels and wheel disks for high-speed trains, locomotives, railway carriages, trams and subway trains. Bevel gear and axle drive wheels for the automotive industry, transmission manufacturing, turbine manufacturing, flanges in the machine and plant building industry, rings for tower flanges and roller bearing manufacturing (cold rolling) are further examples of the diverse applications of ring rolling products.
The benefits of ring rolling:
• Perfectly round rings with clean, smooth surfaces and minimal machining allowance
• Rough turning generally not needed, ideal for direct CNC fabrication
• Homogeneous structure sealed tight against gas and liquids, with appropriate grain flow
• Outstanding mechanical properties
• Practically no set-up costs
• Economical use of material, components can be recycled
• Wide range of materials
Zeon supplies rolled & machined rings upto 2500mm OD in Duplex Steel, Super Duplex Steel, Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, Incoloy & other Exotic grades