A cutting-edge technique for hot metal processing
Laminazione: di cosa si tratta?
Project Group handles machinery integration and the design of control systems and management software for hot metal processing, also known as ring rolling.
Ring rolling is a technological process that allows rolled rings to be obtained from the starting material (metal bars). It is a complex and delicate process because the machining takes place at high temperature, and it is important that there is correct control of the machine axes to ensure the final product is perfect.
The rolling process, thanks to Project Group, is managed automatically: there is software capable of autonomously managing the machining processes. Within the software there is a wizard that allows the operator to draw the ring curve in an assisted manner, limiting defects, so that the final product has no shape defects. Rapid and assisted sizing of preforms (raw materials) is possible. This is important because the raw materials are first prepared and then the actual rolling proceeds. If the raw material is not adequately prepared, the final product will also have defects.
For the ring to be the correct shape, both the preform and the rolling curve must be correct. This result is achieved thanks to the software, which automatically calculates how the preform must be formed so that the curve is exact and the ring then has the correct shape. In addition to this, the software has a graphical simulator that allows the operator to see a representation before the actual rolling takes place.
The system also allows rolling curves to be imported from external calculation systems. In this way, in the event that customers are already equipped with specific tools for carrying out simulations, our software is able to import that data.
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Perchè scegliere Project Group
Ring rolling is a niche technology: few companies build rolling machines and even fewer are able to guide production with precision, reliability and cost savings.
In the automation sector this is a small niche requiring a high degree of specialisation; there are indeed few expert companies with in-depth knowledge of both the process and the machine.
The rolling automation designed by Project Group guarantees significant savings in terms of machining material waste and reliably ever-shorter times in the material transformation phase.
Il futuro
At present, version 2 of the system is under development at Project Group. This new version will have a series of expanded functionalities including 3D graphical simulation, the ability to create traces (recordings via graphs) of process parameters and display them graphically. This will allow the recording to be checked, the graphs to be reviewed and any defects to be identified before proceeding with the machining.
