In the traditional metal rolling process, defects such as stretching and rolling can occur. Roll formed products such as roofing, siding, cladding, construction frames, piping, and conduits are particularly vulnerable to such flaws.
According to the Project Leader Dr Paul Meehan, the team will develop and build a full-scale prototype of the machine, as well as produce representative complex stainless steel products which are extremely difficult to fabricate with current technology.
The partnership has already constructed a fully-working desktop-scaled demonstration prototype fitted with a number of different die sets for different profiles.
The different die designs produce different transverse profiles, and can also create entirely straight or curved longitudinal shapes with traditionally extreme thickness-to-diameter ratios, while working with difficult material such as stainless steel.
The technology is expected to benefit the advanced manufacturing sector, especially the stainless steel market of high-end construction, furniture and automotive applications.