Successful roll forming requires more than a roll forming line and tooling. Robust finite element analysis software, and understanding the material's yield strength and elasticity, are critical. This technology area is full of information on equipment, tooling, and simulation software.
March 31, 2014
Prototyping a roll formed profile doesn’t have to be done in the conventional way, with hardened tooling and short runs made from long strips of material (or coil). American Roll Form uses butt-welded strips of steel, fed into a roll former outfitted with soft tooling, to prototype roll-formed sections. It uses a few other strategies that substantially reduce prototyping cost and lead-time.
October 9, 2013
As revenue tumbled nearly 80 percent during the downturn, OMCO’s sales team searched for new markets that could carry them through the tough times and beyond. Ultimately, they found a sector that grew faster than anyone expected. They found solar.
September 3, 2012
Commercial Roll Formed Products uses a 60-station, modular Dreistern roll forming line to produce highly complex profiles. A focus on producing custom parts has helped the Canadian family-run business grow to include over 30 roll form lines.
August 3, 2012
Roll forming isn’t just for simple gutters or panels, but also for custom welded tubes. Components begin as metal coil and are formed in the rolling mill; prenotching adds the desired slots and holes; then, they are finally seam-welded. All this can be accomplished in one production process.
August 1, 2011
The roll forming industry is not as straight forward as it used to be. Customers demand more sophisticated shapes and quicker turnarounds. Johnson Bros. Metal Forming, Berkeley, Ill., has rolled with the changes over the past 25 years and now sees an exciting future serving the solar equipment industry.
September 13, 2010
Four processes are primarily used to form metal in industry today: extruding, press brake bending, roll forming, and stamping. Roll forming is likely the least used of all of these processes, but given the right applications, it can prove to be the most cost-effective alternative.
August 6, 2009
New ways to increase production, reduce labor costs, and maximize floor space may be found by revisiting a 50-year old technology—rotary punching. Many part features and patterns can be punched and formed using pull-through rotary units at up to 300 feet per minute(FPM) in materials as thick as 1/16 inch. In addition, cam technology allows rotary punching and forming of material thicknesses up to 0.105 in. (12 gauge). Servo drives empower line speeds as fast as 650 (FPM).
March 10, 2009
Continuous improvement and statistical process control are useful, time-tested techniques—they have been used since the 1950s—but their use must be tailored to specific applications. For example, a typical manufacturing metric is parts per minute, but many roll formers should measure feet per minute. This and other tips can help roll formers accurately evaluate their productivity and measure the impact of process improvements.
March 9, 2009
Continuous improvement and statistical process control are useful,time-tested techniques—they have been used since the 1950s—but their use must be tailored to specific applications. For example, atypical manufacturing metric is parts per minute, but many roll formers should measure feet per minute. This and other tips can help roll formers accurately evaluate their productivity and measure the impact of process improvements.
September 30, 2008
Roll forming is a matter of two processes: shaping material using localized deformation with a large amount of material movement (in other words, bending and moving the material). Localized deformation (bending) is a permanent bend with a slight thickness reduction at the bending line. Material movement is a matter of relocating or rotating a section, either formed or unformed, without changing its shape. Although roll forming engineers often address these processes at the same time, it can be helpful to consider forming and movement separately.
May 13, 2008
According to OSHA and BLS data, safety in metal manufacturing has been improving. Workplace injuries and injury severity fell from 2000 to 2006. The biggest improvements have been in severe injuries, so minor injuries have gotten more attention lately. One such minor injury is cutting. Roll formers can do their part to prevent workplace cuts by focusing on deburring.
March 11, 2008
For many jobs, the toughest part isn't roll forming the parts themselves—it's getting those parts to the customer. Parts are cut-to-length, then placed on immense wooden frames in such a way that allows the maximum load on a truck. That's a lot of material handling. But what if a shop eliminated the packing altogether by taking the roll forming to the job site itself?