A monitoring device monitors a forming machine (target device). The forming machine includes a housing, a bearing attached to the housing, and a shaft placed radially inside the bearing. The monitoring device includes a plurality of heat flux sensors and a detector. The heat flux sensors are provided on the radially outer side of the bearing and spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the bearing. The heat flux sensors output a signal corresponding to heat fluxes through faces thereof on the bearing side and faces thereof on the other side. The detector detects a load applied radially to the shaft or bearing, based on the output from the heat flux sensors.

A thermal-assisted method deforms plastically a high-strength material using a high-intensive heat source. The high-strength material may be a cold-rolled sheet aluminum of strength greater than 300 megapascal (MPa) or a cold-rolled sheet steel of strength greater than 1000 MPa. The cold-rolled sheet metal is heated just before bending to a temperature near or above the critical temperature for the material and is followed by rapid quenching after bending.

A flexible roll-die forming machine for variable cross-section parts includes: a feeding device and a flexible roll-die forming unit; wherein the flexible roll-die forming unit includes at least a set of flexible roll-die forming devices; when two or more sets of the flexible roll-die forming devices are provided, the flexible roll-die forming devices are connected in sequence; wherein the feeding device is arranged at a front end of the flexible roll-die forming unit and is connected to an adjacent flexible roll-die forming device. The present invention effectively solves problems that conventional flexible roll-die forming machines are not able to produce narrow part with variable cross-sections, and the forming accuracy is poor. The present invention also reduces the amount of shafts controlled by servo motors, so as to simplify the controlling system, improve system operation reliability and simplify maintenance.

A flexible roll-die forming machine for variable cross-section parts includes: a feeding device and a flexible roll-die forming unit; wherein the flexible roll-die forming unit includes at least a set of flexible roll-die forming devices; when two or more sets of the flexible roll-die forming devices are provided, the flexible roll-die forming devices are connected in sequence; wherein the feeding device is arranged at a front end of the flexible roll-die forming unit and is connected to an adjacent flexible roll-die forming device. The present invention effectively solves problems that conventional flexible roll-die forming machines are not able to produce narrow part with variable cross-sections, and the forming accuracy is poor. The present invention also reduces the amount of shafts controlled by servo motors, so as to simplify the controlling system, improve system operation reliability and simplify maintenance.

A spacer for adjusting the width between rollers of roller tooling for machines operable to form metal products has an annular male member with lateral bosses and an annular female member having different depth pockets accommodating the bosses to adjust the combined width of the male and female members.

An elongated metal simulated log siding panel has a curved portion that simulates the curvature of a natural construction log. A plurality of longitudinally extending and randomly transversely spaced permanent bends in the curved portion simulate hew lines of a natural construction log, thereby creating a more natural appearance. Rotating disks compress the metal into an elastomeric roller to create the hew line-simulating bends.

An elongated metal simulated log siding panel has a curved portion that simulates the curvature of a natural construction log. A plurality of longitudinally extending and randomly transversely spaced permanent bends in the curved portion simulate hew lines of a natural construction log, thereby creating a more natural appearance. Rotating disks compress the metal into an elastomeric roller to create the hew line-simulating bends.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a pipe including a large-diameter portion, a small-diameter portion, and a reduced diameter portion connecting the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion, the method comprising: forming a metal plate member into a U-shaped member having a U-shaped cross section; and forming the U-shaped member into a shape of the pipe. The U-shaped member includes: a curved portion facing an opening between both edges of the U-shaped cross section; and two facing side walls continued from the curved portion. An opening degree of the two facing side walls in a portion to form the small-diameter portion is larger than an opening degree of the two facing side walls in a portion to form the large-diameter portion.

A roller cage for a profiling line, comprising: a support frame (F1) that entirely delimits a non-operating area (A1) which is external to the line; at least a motor (11) provided with a spindle (12) protruding externally of the non-operating area (A1); at least a shaped roller (13, mounted directly on the spindle (12) and arranged inside an operating area (B) of the line.

A forming roller adjustment system has a shaft, a key, a roller and a ring. The key fits into a keyway in the shaft and has a projecting portion that projects outwardly from the shaft. The projecting portion includes spaced, transverse channels. The ring is rotatably attached to the roller. The roller and ring each have a shaft aperture that receives the shaft, and a keyway that receives the projecting portion of the key. The ring fits into the channels in the projecting portion of the key. When the keyways on the ring and roller are aligned, the roller is movable along the shaft. When the ring is aligned with one of the channels in the projecting portion of the key and rotated into the channel, the roller is axially locked on the shaft.