Working range of roll pass sequences in wire rod rolling with interstand tensions

Abstract

In the high speed rolling of wire rod in blocks, interstand tensions are utilised in order to keep the process stable. However, interstand tensions influence the rolling process, and especially the spread and forward slip, which are dependent of tensions between the stands. By the influence on spread, the tolerances of the rolled product depend on the tensions and usually the interstand tensions are kept as low as possible in order to obtain required tolerances. A narrow spread technology is used to utilise interstand tensions in order to increase the working range of a pass sequence and move the product range towards smaller sizes. By adapting a certain amount of interstand tensions, smaller sizes can be rolled by a given roll pass schedule. A practical problem in this method is the fixed gearings in the common blocks, which require a certain and given level of interstand tensions and corresponding reductions. In the latest generation of blocks, where the stands are arranged in units, two by two, with each unit driven by a dedicated electrical motor, it is possible to introduce 'inter unit' tensions, and by this method extend the working range of the pass sequence. A special computer program for analysis of interstand tensions has been developed by combining a program TENSION, developed at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, dealing with the basic principles of rolling with interstand tensions, with the recently published program WORKRAN, which analyses the working range of any roll pass sequence built up by common two-symmetrical grooves. From the analysis and experimental data it is shown that interstand tensions at the level of 10% of the yield stress of the material increase the working range in a six stand block by 2% and reduce the lower limit of the exit section area by about 15%. Higher tension levels have a larger effect both on the extension of the working range and on the reduction of the minimum exit area but it becomes more difficult to control the tolerances at higher tension levels. The influence of interstand tensions on the reduction and on the working range of the pass sequence is mainly obtained by the influence on the round passes, while the oval passes have a counteracting effect on the influence of interstand tensions.