Hess Engineering: Metalforming Technologies

Products : Flowforming Machines:
3-Roll, 6-Axis Vertical Flowformer (Electric)

Purpose

Flowforming the profile of cast or forged aluminum wheel blanks to prepare them for finish machining the bolt holes, pilot hole, hand holes, and valve hole. The final profile is shaped through a series of operations that typically include a pre-form and final-form process. Manual part loading and unloading as well as a fully integrated hard automation and / or robot handling systems are possible.

Description

The machine frame employs a vertical axis design with a fixed integrated frame for the three (3) radial roll slides. This design allows simple loading/unloading while maintaining superior frame rigidity for good process control. The relative axial movement of part-to-roller is accomplished with the travel of the three axial and radial slide assemblies. The six (6) radial roller slides are guided by means of a preloaded anti-friction bearing arrangement. All six (6) roller slides are driven by closed-loop, electric servo systems.

The fixed headstock is mounted in the base of the machines. An ODP, blower-cooled DC spindle motor provides 500 horsepower to the machine spindle, facilitating single-pass short duration forming of forged or cast wheels. The motor is coupled to the spindle via a direct belt-drive.

The hydraulically-actuated tailstock axis serves the purpose of clamping the wheel onto the headstock mandrel. A hydraulically-actuated part strippers are mounted in both the headstock and the tailstock to remove the part from the tooling after forming.

All axes are controlled via slide-mounted, linear feedback devices that provide both position and velocity information to the CNC control. Spindle motor mounted encoders provide accurate speed regulation that is essential for consistent process control. Programmable offsets can be used to compensate for process variables.

The lubrication system is an oil type with standard pneumatic reciprocating pump and series distribution blocks to provide lubrication to all slides. The headstock and roller housing lube systems are a simple gear pump with a relief valve for pressure setting and bypass oil. This system provides a continuous supply of pressurized, recirculating oil. The oil is cooled by an oil/water heat exchanger.


KNOWLEDGE CENTER : 3-ROLL, 6-AXIS VERTICAL FLOWFORMER
Related Technologies Related Applications Related Services

Coiling

Flowforming

Rollforming

Shrinking/Expanding

Spinforming

Straightening

Welding

Clutch Housing

Fuel Cell

Motor Housing

Nose Cone

Transmission Shaft

Wheel

Emergency Parts

Emergency Phone Support

Failure Mode Effect Analysis

Field Assistance

Finite Element Analysis

Machine Tooling Design

Part Design Consultation

Part Prototyping

Preventative Maintenance

Process Feasibility

Productivity Studies

Rebuilds & Retrofits

Stat Analysis Consultation

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