Rolling of T-shaped profiled strip by the satellite mill

A new type of compact mill called a "satellite mill" is used for producing T-shaped profiled strip from flat strip. The mill comprises one large-diameter flat roll (central roll) and five smaller-diameter caliber rolls (satellite rolls) arranged along the periphery of the central roll. The flat strip is continuously passed through the five gaps between the central roll and the satellite rolls and formed into a T shape. All rolls are driven at an equal peripheral speed to restrain elongation of strip and to promote transversal metal flow. A guide shoe is provided between each two adjacent satellite rolls to prevent the strip from bulging out or buckling. Using aluminum as a model material, some rolling experiments were performed on the mill. T-shaped profiled strips with a thickness ratio (thickness of thick part per thickness of thin part) as high as three were rolled successfully. When deformation and force characteristics were investigated, it was found that, in comparison to a conventional multipass caliber rolling, the elongation of the strip is suppressed and the filling ability is much improved.