structural shape rolling
Structural shape rolling, also known as shape rolling and profile rolling,{{Cite book|last=Boljanovic |first=Vukota |title=Metal Shaping Processes |publisher=Industrial Press |location=New York |year=2009 |page=140 |isbn=9780831133801 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bX5_9tUbi6EC}} is the rolling and roll forming of structural shapes by passing them through a rolling mill to bend or deform the workpiece to a desired shape while maintaining a constant cross-section. Structural shapes that can be made with this metal forming process include I-beams, H-beams, T-beams, U-beams, angle iron, channels, bar stock, and railroad rails. The most commonly rolled material is structural steel, including carbon steel and stainless steel.{{cite web |title=Rolled Structural Shapes |url=https://www.arntzenrolling.com/rolled-structural-shapes.html |website=Arntzen Rolling |publisher=Arntzen Corporation}} Other metals,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} plastic,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} paper,{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} and glass{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} can also be rolled. Common applications include railroads, bridges, roller coasters, art, and architectural applications.
It is a cost-effective way of bending these materials because the process requires less set-up time and uses pre-made dies that are changed according to the shape and dimension of the workpiece.[http://www.paramount-roll.com/services/process.asp How We Form Steel to Bend Metal Pipes and Tubing (roll forming)] This process can roll workpieces into full circles.
Process
Structural shape rolling uses profile rolling techniques where the workpiece is passed through a series of flatteners (of larger magnitude than most common rolling devices) that match the workpieces' cross-section. The most common method uses 3 rollers; the bending is controlled by varying the distance between the rollers.
Structural shapes can be rolled in different ways such as the “easy-way”, the “hard-way”, heel in/out, ball in/out, leg in/out, stem in/out, and off axis. The hard-way would be bending the workpiece in the orientation where its moment of inertia is the greatest. The easy-way is bending the workpiece along the axis with the smallest moment of inertia. For example, a piece of angle iron rolled the easy-way would be rolled along one of its flanges, while the hard-way would be along the angle itself.http://www.aasteelfab.com/structural_methods.php {{dead link|date=January 2019}}
References
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Further reading
- {{Cite book
|title=Manufacturing Processes & Materials
|first1=George F. |last1=Schrader
|first2=Ahmad K. |last2=Elshennawy
|edition=4th
|publisher=Industrial Press
|year=2000
|isbn=978-0831132026
}}