The Ring’s Axial Deformation Control Method of Vertical Hot Ring Rolling Process

Axial deformation of the ring during the traditional vertical hot ring rolling (VHRR) process has a considerable effect on the ring products’ quality. In this paper, the ring’s axial deformation of VHRR process of three different rolling modes, that is, open-die mode, close-die mode and open-die mode with conical rolls like the radial-axial ring rolling (RARR) process is analyzed. Three groups of 3D coupled thermo-mechanical FE models of VHRR process are established in software ABAQUS, and the axial deformation and the width spread of the rings are studied in detail. Finally, a special conical roll device was designed and equipped on the traditional VHRR mill, and series of VHRR experiments are conducted, the results of both simulation and VHRR process show that the formed rings utilizing open-die rolling with a special pair of conical rolls has lower axial deformation, smoother end surface and higher precision than the formed rings utilizing open-die rolling and close-die rolling. The research results can supply an effective approach to axial deformation control of traditional VHRR process.