The three-roller plate rolling machine serves as a versatile tool that bends metal sheets into cylindrical, arc-shaped, or conical workpieces.
- Its working principle relies on the geometry of three points forming a circle.
- By adjusting the relative position between rollers and the workpiece and rotating the rollers, operators induce continuous plastic deformation in the metal sheet.
- As a result, they shape the material into the required curvature or cylindrical form.
Plate Rolling Machine : Structure and Function
- The machine mainly consists of three rollers: the upper roller, lower roller, and side roller.
- Operators use the upper and lower rollers to rotate and bend the metal sheet.
- Meanwhile, the side roller clamps the sheet and assists in pre-bending and guiding the rolling process.
- Through coordinated movement, these three rollers work together to form round, arc, or conical shapes depending on roller positioning.
Three-Roller Plate Rolling Machine : Rolling Process Steps
Preparation Stage
- Before rolling, operators inspect all rollers and components to ensure they’re undamaged and securely installed.
- They also select suitable rollers and precisely adjust their positions to guarantee consistent contact with the metal sheet.
- This adjustment prevents uneven pressure, which could cause defects.
Pre-Bending Stage
- Operators place the sheet on the bending die and press the upper roller downward.
- By moving the die back and forth, they bend the edges to the desired radius.
- To maintain balance, they perform pre-bending in two steps, handling both ends of the sheet separately.
- This method ensures that both edges achieve the correct curvature before full rolling.
Rolling Stage
- Next, they align the longitudinal centerline of the sheet parallel to the roller’s axis.
- Then, by controlling the roller distance, pressure, and speed, they guide the metal sheet through the machine.
- During this phase, the machine continuously rolls the sheet into its near-final shape.
Rounding Stage
- To enhance shape precision, operators roll the workpiece back and forth 1–2 times.
- These additional passes eliminate curvature inconsistencies and ensure that the arc or cylinder is smooth and uniform.
- Careful fine-tuning at this stage guarantees optimal results.
Completion Stage
- After forming, they inspect the rolled workpiece for quality and dimensional accuracy.
- If necessary, they adjust roller positions or modify pressure to correct minor flaws.
- This final tuning step ensures the finished product meets technical specifications.
Safety and Operational Precautions
- During the operation, workers must verify that safety devices function correctly to protect against accidents.
- In addition, they should choose suitable parameters—including pressure, speed, and roller distance—based on the material properties.
- Before beginning, operators must examine the sheet’s surface to confirm its flatness and suitability for rolling.
- Neglecting this step could result in deformation or reduced product quality.
Conclusion
The three-roller plate rolling machine offers an efficient and reliable method for bending and shaping metal sheets.
Thanks to its wide applicability, industries such as shipbuilding, boiler manufacturing, aviation, hydropower, chemical processing, and metal fabrication rely on this machine for various forming tasks.
By following proper procedures and safety practices, operators can produce accurate, high-quality rolled components for industrial use.