Development of the profile ring rolling process for large slewing rings of alloy steels

In this study, a profile ring rolling process for large slewing rings of alloy steels is developed. A profile ring with a round groove located asymmetrically on the outside is rolled. The process is simulated by finite element method. General-purpose commercial finite element analysis software, MSC.SuperForm, is used. Experiments are carried out at an industrial ring rolling machine and compared with the analysis. By choosing the method that the height in the axial direction of the initial ring blanks is set higher than products and lowered by using conical rolls during the process, it is attempted to develop process to make a large slewing ring at a single ring rolling operation. To do this, the process is analyzed using the finite element analysis method and an experiment to make the real profile ring is carried out. In the case that the round groove on the outside is located at upper side, the position of the round groove moves downward and sidewall tilts. This phenomenon is predicted relatively well at the finite element analysis. It is recommended that the round groove on the outside is located at lower side. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.