Ring Rolling

Ring rolling is a particular category of metal rolling, in which a ring of smaller diameter is rolled into a precise ring of larger diameter and a reduced cross section. This is accomplished by the use of two rollers, one driven and one idle, acting on either side of the ring's cross section. Edging rollers are typically used during industrial metal rolling manufacture, to ensure that the part will maintain a constant width throughout the forming operation. The work will essentially retain the same volume, therefore the geometric reduction in thickness will be compensated for entirely by an increase in the ring's diameter. Rings manufactured by ring rolling are seamless. This forming process can be used to manufacture not only flat rings, but rings of differently shaped cross sections as well, producing very precise parts with little waste of material.

A significant advantage of parts produced by this metal rolling process is that the forming of the material will impart the ring with a grain orientation that gives it enhanced strength relative to most applications. Common items produced by this process in manufacturing industry today include rings for machinery, aerospace applications, turbines, pipes, pressure vessels, roller and ball bearing races. The following shows the sequence of events of the ring rolling process, the part is commonly started as a metal bar cut to a certain length.

Figure:149

Work
Preparation For Ring Rolling

Figure:150
Rolls Begin
To Roll Ring

Metal
Forming Process Continues To Increase Part's Diameter