Tool condition analysis and monitoring in cold rolling process

Abstract: This research is about a costly problem in the automotive industry due to tool fracture during the splines cold rolling of steel shafts. The objective is to study the cause of this failure and propose solutions that can be implemented in the workshop.The writing starts with a brief introduction of the companies involved in shafts production and problem solving. It introduces the cold rolling process and its advantages on splines manufacturing, and it goes through relevant material and process characteristics that help to determine the cause of tool fracture.In order to understand the process failure and production flow, it has been necessary to build up an Ishikawa diagram with possible tool fracture causes. After collecting and analysing the data about the machine tool, cold rolling process and work-piece and rolling tool materials, tests and experiments have been done.It has been considered that there is a rolling tool fatigue that causes tool fracture. Beside tool fracture, two more problems with production flow instability and the right side rolling tool have been detected. Testing the material hardness of the work-piece has shown continuous hardness fluctuations from the supplier. Rolling tool misalignment has been measured by using a vernier caliper measurement device. Rolling tools material hardness analysis shows that tool is very hard and it is possible to use a tougher material which responds better to cyclic loads.Leax has tried to solve the problem by testing another lubrication and tool coatings. A modal analysis test has been performed in order to find the natural frequency of the work-piece which possibly may lead to vibration and over loading one of the rolling tools.The conclusion that has been reached is that main cause of fracture is rolling tool fatigue due to cyclic loads and it is important to use other rolling tool material. The other two detected problems, production flow instability and rigth side rolling tool fracture, should be considered as a part of the problem in order to significantly increase tools life and stabilize production flow rate.