The key 'craftsman' in the metallurgical industry of straightening rollers

2025-09-05 11:39:55

In the metallurgical production process, the straightening roller is responsible for straightening various types of steel materials such as pipes (bars) and plates. Taking continuous casting technology as an example, after the billet is formed, the Straightening Roller needs to accurately pull and straighten the high-temperature billet to ensure that it is output in good condition. During this process, the stable operation of the straightening roller is crucial, as its stable driving force can ensure the surface quality and dimensional accuracy of the cast billet. Once there is speed fluctuation or insufficient torque in the straightening roller, internal defects may occur in the cast billet, and in severe cases, it may even lead to production interruption.

The working principle of the straightening roller is based on the stretching and bending effects on steel. When straightening the pipe (rod) material, the pipe (rod) material enters the straightening roller of the Tension Straightening Roller through the feeding device, and the reducer drives the straightening roller to rotate. During the rotation process, the straightening roller applies external force to the pipe (rod) material, causing it to gradually undergo plastic deformation, thus achieving straightening. For sheet metal, stretch bending straightening technology combines traditional roller straightening with stretch straightening. Under tension, the strip steel undergoes plastic extension through interlocking roller systems, releasing internal stresses in the sheet and eliminating waves, warping, side bending, and potential defects in the cold rolling process.

In practical applications, the straightening roller plays a unique role in different production processes. In the pickling process, the straightening machine plays a role in mechanically breaking scales, improving pickling efficiency, and improving the hot-rolled raw material plate shape, reducing the deviation phenomenon during the operation of the strip steel, and reducing the damage caused to the strip steel by plate shape problems. In the production of cold-rolled strip steel, the straightening machine is set in front of the pickling tank, which not only improves the shape of the hot-rolled incoming plate, but also enhances the quality of the pickling process by bending and straightening the rust and oxide layer on the surface of the raw material, providing a better foundation for subsequent cold-rolled processes and thus improving the product quality of cold-rolled strip steel.

However, the straightening roller also faces many challenges in its work. The metallurgical production environment is harsh, with a large amount of metal dust, and factors such as high temperature and high humidity coexist, which has a serious impact on the straightening roller and its supporting gear reducer and other equipment. In this environment, the lifespan of the gearbox will be significantly shortened and it is prone to damage. Because metal dust may enter the interior of the gearbox, exacerbating component wear, while high temperature and humidity can accelerate equipment aging. The straightening roller itself may also experience wear, cracks, and other problems due to prolonged contact with steel, resulting in significant pressure and friction, which can affect its straightening effect and service life.

Metallurgical enterprises have taken various measures to address these issues. Regularly maintain and upkeep the gearbox, such as changing lubricating oil, cleaning the machine body, etc., to extend its service life. For the straightening roller, special materials are used for manufacturing. For example, in the continuous casting straightening roller, alloy tool steels such as 25CrMo4 and 35CrMo are selected, and the performance and reliability are improved by optimizing the structural design, such as changing the overall structure to a welded structure. In daily production, we will also strengthen the inspection of the straightening roller, timely detect and deal with problems such as wear and cracks, and ensure its normal operation.

The straightening roller plays an indispensable role in the steel production process in the metallurgical industry. Despite facing many challenges, through continuous technological improvement and maintenance management, it continues to contribute to improving steel quality and ensuring production efficiency, promoting the stable development of the metallurgical industry. With the continuous advancement of metallurgical technology, the straightening roller will also be constantly upgraded and innovated to meet more stringent production requirements.