Roller Design and Optimization Based on RSM with Categoric Factors in Power Spinning of Ni-Based Superalloy

Power spinning is a single point high pressure forming process which is usually studied with ideal regular billet. However, in some cases, the billet adopted in this process is from conventional spinning process with non-uniform wall thickness and springback. Therefore, the forming accuracy is low because this unpredictable spun billet. In this paper, cone, step and arc rollers are compared and the length change of deformation zone is calculated to further understand the forming mechanism of different roller shapes. Multi-step process simulation considering conventional spinning and power spinning is established. The influence of roller parameters such as roller nose radius, straightening zone in step roller and bite angle on the maximum roller force are discussed. In addition, the continuous factors such as installation angle and discrete factor roller shape are studied based on the response surface method (RSM) with categoric factors. The results show that roller shape have a big influence on the workpiece forming quality in power spinning process. Step roller is more suitable for use in this work. The roller nose radius and installation angle have great impacts on the maximum roller force.

Effects of Process Parameters on Surface Straightness of Variable-Section Conical Parts during Hot Power Spinning

How to form high-quality variable-section thin-walled conical parts through power spinning is a key issue for superalloy spinning manufacturing. A study into the hot power spinning deformation law of variable-section thin-walled conical parts and the effects of process parameters on surface straightness of forming quality are delineated in this paper. Through the establishment of finite element (FE) models using the single-factor and orthogonal design of experiments, the effects of four key process parameters on the surface straightness have been investigated and the optimal combination of process parameters have been yielded. These key factors include spinning temperature, roller nose radius, mandrel rotation rate and roller feed ratio. The results of FE simulation have been validated through the comparison of the surface straightness of modeled parts with those measured during a spinning experiment. The results reveal that, among the studied process parameters, the spinning temperature has the greatest influence on the surface straightness, followed by the roller nose radius and mandrel rotation rate, and the roller feed ratio has the least influence on the straightness. Larger mandrel rotation rate, smaller feed ratio and suitable spinning temperature can enhance the surface straightness.

Lightweight Design of Steel Wheel Introducing the Disc Spinning Process

The steel wheel consists of wheel disc and rim. The wheel disc is manufactured by using power spinning process. The spinning process does not guarantee that the design scheme can be realized accurately. In this paper, the simulation method of the disc spinning process is investigated, and introduced to the lightweight design of steel wheel. Firstly, the power spinning process is simulated, and the validity of the simulation method is verified by test. Then two optimization schemes of the disc are proposed. Finally, the forming quality of the products from the optimization schemes is analyzed by spinning process simulation. The results show that the product from the optimal scheme may not be optimal since the effect of the forming quality in the spinning process. To obtain the optimal performance of product, it is very necessary to evaluate the design scheme by introducing the disc spinning process in the design stage of wheel disc.

Power Spinning of the Curved Head with Tailor Welded Aluminum Alloy Blank: Deformation, Microstructure, and Property

The power spinning of tailor-welded blank (TWB) provides a feasible way to form the large-scale curved heads of aluminum alloy. However, the inhomogeneous material property of TWB produces different and more complex spinning behaviors compared with the traditional spinning of an integral homogenous blank. In this research, the deformation characteristics, microstructure, and the properties of the power spun curved head with aluminum alloy TWB were studied. A finite element model considering the inhomogeneous material property of welded blank is developed for the analysis of the power spinning process. To conduct accurate and efficient simulation, an effective meshing method is proposed according to the feature of TWB. The simulation and experimental results show that the weld zone (WZ) presents the larger equivalent stress but smaller equivalent strain than base material zone (BMZ) in power spinning due to its larger deformation resistance. Under the combined effects of the spiral local loading path and inhomogeneous deformability of TWB, the equivalent strain near the weld zone has an asymmetric V-shaped distribution. Strain inhomogeneity gradually increases with deformation and leads to an increase of the flange swing degree. In addition, the circumferential thickness distribution is relatively uniform, which is little affected by the existence of the weld line. However, the circumferential unfitability distribution becomes non-uniform and the roundness is worsened due to the existence of the weld line. Compared to the initial blank, the microstructure in WZ and BMZ are both elongated after spinning. The tensile strength is improved but plasticity reduced after power spinning based on the circumferential and radial tests of WZ and BMZ. The results are of theoretical and technical guidance for the power spinning of the curved head component with TWB.