Forming machine and method for control of a forming machine

Abstract

A forming machine, particularly a ring-rolling machine, which includes a light section sensor, which is directed at a workpiece disposed in a work region of the forming machine, can work precisely while having a simple mechanical-engineering structure. The light section sensor may be directed at a forming region in which the working tool acts in forming manner.

Claims

1. A forming machine comprising: (a) at least a first forming tool acting on a workpiece disposed in a work region so as to form the workpiece, the work region comprising a forming region, the at least first forming tool acting on the workpiece in a forming manner in the forming region; (b) a forming control device controlling the at least first forming tool; (c) an axial stand configured to be radially displaceable; and (d) a first light section sensor directed at the workpiece in the forming region and providing an input variable for the forming control device to set the at least first forming tool with reference to the workpiece during formation of the workpiece, the first light section sensor being disposed on the axial stand such that the axial stand is configured to radially displace the first light section sensor; wherein the first light section sensor irradiates a surface of the workpiece with a laser beam to measure an external diameter of the workpiece in the forming region and the external diameter so measured is provided to the forming control device, the first light section sensor monitoring reaction force generated in the workpiece during forming by irradiating the surface of the workpiece with the laser beam and detecting a change of the external diameter of the workpiece.

2. The forming machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second forming tool acting simultaneously with the at least first forming tool on the workpiece in opposite directions, wherein the forming region comprises at least one of a region of the workpiece between the at least first and at least second forming tools and at least one forming surface of the at least first and at least second forming tools that is directed at the workpiece.

3. The forming machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second light section sensor, wherein the at least second light section sensor is directed at the workpiece disposed in the work region.

4. The forming machine according to claim 3, wherein the first and at least second light section sensors are oriented to intersect or in otherwise linearly independent manner.

5. The forming machine according to claim 4, wherein the first and at least second light section sensors are directed at the workpiece both radially and axially.

6. The forming machine according to claim 3, wherein the first and at least second light section sensors are oriented in collinear manner.

7. The forming machine according to claim 1, wherein the forming machine comprises: a rolling machine; or a press; or a rolling machine and a hot-forming forming machine; or a press and a hot-forming forming machine.

8. The forming machine according to claim 7, wherein the rolling machine is a ring-rolling machine.

9. The forming machine according to claim 8, comprising at least one of a pair of radial rolls and a pair of axial rolls, wherein the first forming tool is a first roll of the pair of radial rolls or axial rolls, and wherein the first light section sensor measures from the first roll of the pair of radial rolls or axial rolls to a second roll of the pair of radial rolls or axial rolls.

10. The forming machine according to claim 8, wherein the ring rolling machine comprises a radial roll stand and wherein the first light section sensor is disposed at a location facing away from the radial roll stand and directed at the workpiece.

11. A method comprising steps of: (a) forming at a forming region of a forming machine a workpiece having a profile, a first forming tool of the forming machine acting on the workpiece at the forming region; (b) radially displacing an axial stand and a first light section sensor disposed on the axial stand; (c) irradiating a surface of the workpiece in the forming region via a laser beam from the first light section sensor such that an external diameter of the profile is obtained; (d) monitoring a reaction force generated by the workpiece during the forming by detecting a change of the external diameter of the workpiece by using the irradiating of the surface of the workpiece; (e) providing the external diameter of the profile and the change of the external diameter of the workpiece to a forming control device; and (f) controlling via the forming control device the forming machine according to the external diameter and according to the change of the external diameter of the workpiece.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising steps of: comparing, during the forming, the profile with a reference profile, the profile having been measured during the forming, and generating, from a comparison result of the comparing, regulating interventions for the forming.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of: irradiating the profile of the workpiece by a second light section sensor.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first and second light section sensors are oriented to intersect or in otherwise linearly independent manner.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first and second light section sensors are directed at the workpiece both radially and axially.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first and second light section sensors are oriented in collinear manner.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the forming machine comprises: a rolling machine; or a press; or a rolling machine and a hot-forming forming machine; or a press and a hot-forming forming machine.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the rolling machine is a ring-rolling machine.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the ring-rolling machine has at least one of a pair of radial rolls and a pair of axial rolls as forming tools, and further comprising a step of: measuring, via the first light section sensor, from a first roll of the pair of radial rolls or axial rolls to a second roll of the pair of radial rolls or axial rolls.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first light section sensor is disposed at a location facing away from a radial roll stand, and directed at the workpiece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, goals, and properties of the present invention will be explained using the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which is particularly also shown in the attached drawing. In the drawing,

(2) the single FIGURE shows a schematic side view of a ring-rolling machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) The ring-rolling machine 4 shown in the FIGURE, structured as a forming machine 1, comprises multiple hydraulically regulated linear axles 2, which are controlled, in each instance, by way of linear drives 3, such as hydraulic cylinders, for example, as well as a radial drive 6 and axial drives 7, 8, which drive corresponding radial rolls 10 and axial rolls 11, 12 by way of their roll shafts 9, in each instance, as forming tools 25.

(4) In known manner, the ring-rolling machine 4 comprises a radial roll stand 15, on which a mandrel lifting apparatus 16 is radially displaceable by way of an upper drawing frame 17, wherein the mandrel lifting apparatus 16 in turn can axially displace the mandrel, which is not shown, and ultimately acts radially as a forming tool 25, in interplay with the radial roll 10. Likewise, a lower drawing frame 18 is provided for further modules. For example, the ring-rolling machine 4 shown in the FIGURE also has an intake-side centering unit 19 as well as a radially displaceable axial roll stand 14, which carries the two axial rolls 11 and 12, and an axially displaceable pusher 20, by means of which the upper axial roll 11 of the two axial rolls 11, 12 can be axially set. All of these movement possibilities are controlled by way of hydraulically regulated linear axles 2, by means of linear drives 3, in this exemplary embodiment.

(5) The roll shaft 9 of the radial drive 6, which shaft is connected with the radial roll 10, is configured in one piece in this embodiment, wherein in an alternative embodiment, it can also be configured in multiple pieces but disposed coaxially.

(6) A light section sensor 13 is disposed on the axial roll stand 14, which sensor is directed at a workpiece to be rolled or at a work region 23 in which the workpiece can be disposed and rotates during rolling. In this specific exemplary embodiment, the light section sensor 13 is directed at a forming region 24 between the two axial rolls 11, 12, in which region these axial rolls 11, 12 act on the workpiece or on the ring to be rolled, with their forming surfaces 26, so as to form it. An additional light section sensor 13 is part of the forming machine and is directed at the work region 23 or at the workpiece in the work region 23.

(7) It can be guaranteed by means of the placement of the light section sensor 13 on the axial roll stand 14 that the light section sensor 13 always remains at essentially a constant distance with reference to the workpiece and the axial rolls 11, 12. This arrangement allows particularly simple regulation with regard to the positioning of the axial roll stand.

(8) The forming machine 1 or ring-rolling machine 4 shown in the drawing makes it possible to project a constant laser line on the mantle surface of a hot ring as a workpiece, which generally has temperatures between 900 C. and 1200 C., on the basis of the light section laser or on the basis of the light section sensor 13, and to simultaneously measure it during rolling. In this manner, different profile shapes during rolling can be registered in detail, which is not possible by way of mechanical sensing rollers or by means of triangulation lasers, even if up to three triangulation lasers are possibly used here, not even in rudimentary form.

(9) In particular, it is also possible to compare a reference profile with a current actual profile, which can be done on a monitor, for example, on the one hand, so that a user would have the possibility of seeing and evaluating the current degree of profile filling. The machine controller could also undertake a qualitative evaluation of the profile rolling by means of a tolerance band. Likewise, the rolling process as such may be influenced on the basis of this evaluation, in other words to control or regulate the forming machine 1 or ring-rolling machine 4.

(10) Preferably, the light section sensor 13 ordepending on the specific requirementsonly the display or the registered camera window of the light section sensor 13 is adjustable in the Z axis. In this way, the possibility can be created of being able to freely select the diameter coordinate to be measured, in the Z axis, thereby greatly simplifying the machine construction, because it is possible to do without a mechanical height adjustment.

(11) Because the arrangement described in the drawing enables the contact position of the upper and lower axial rolls 11, 12 with the workpiece to be measured, the speed of rotation of the axial rolls 11, 12 can be adapted to the circumferential speed of the radial roll 10 or to the speeds that occur at the axial rolls 11, 12. This feature is advantageous particularly in the case of conical rings, because in this way, a better rolling result can be achieved. It is understood that this advantage can also be utilized accordingly in the case of cylindrical rings, although here, ultimately simpler conditions are found.

(12) The measurement results of the light section sensor 13 are made available to a forming control device 27 as an input variable 28; this device then sets the linear drives 3 and drives 6, 7, 8, the mandrel lifting apparatus 16 and other assemblies by means of corresponding output variables 29, which preferably takes place in the form of a regulation circuit. It is understood that if applicable, further input variables can also be utilized by the forming control device 27.

(13) Thus, although at least one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.