A study of Flexible Roll Forming of Automotive Structures
International Journal of Innovative Science and Modern Engineering (IJISME), 5 (10):
1-4 (March 2019)Abstract
Roll forming is a continuous profile production process to form sheet metal progressively into desired shape with closer tolerances. The process offers several advantages such as complex geometrical shapes, high strength, dimensional accuracy, closer tolerances, and good surface finish. Several parts in automobile body are produced with this process. Conventional roll forming is limited to components with uniform cross-sections; the recently developed flexible roll forming (FRF) process can be used to form components which vary in both width and depth. It has been suggested that this process can be used to manufacture automotive components from UHSS which has limited tensile elongation. In this method, the pre-cut blank is fed through a set of rolls; some rolls are computer-numerically controlled to follow the three dimensional contours of the part and hence parts with variable cross-section can be produced.Several Parts in automobile body are produced with this process. Flexible roll forming process can easily be implemented to current production lines and synchronized with other stamping units. The pipe-shaped thin-walled cross-sections and complex shaped profiles which are difficult to produce by other methods can be produced by roll forming. Nowadays flexible roll forming technology draws more attentions than before in authomotive industry.