Original paper(Vol.50 No.5 pp.468)

Formability in SMC Roll Forming-Influence of Reduction, Roll Velocity and Roll Diameter on Load and Deformation Characteristics in Forming Process-

Tsutao KATAYAMA, Kazumasa KUROKAWA, Atsushi KITADE, Go KAMADA, Masahiro SHINOHARA and Masahiro HAKOTANI

Abstract:SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) is suitable for mass-production of FRP. It is usually formed in compression molding. But this molding has some problems. Therefore we propose the application of the roll forming to SMC, expecting the decrease of forming energy, short production time and controllability of fiber orientation. These studies have been carried out about the influence of parameters, such as reduction, tension between roll stands and so on. But this study has not been carried out about the influence of other parameters, such as roll velocity, roll diameter and so on. And also, the forming conditions contributing to short production time have not been found out yet. In this paper, for investigating the forming conditions contributing to lateral spread and short production time, we carried out the experiments about the influence of important parameters on load and deformation characteristics. Secondary, I estimated a optimum condition made from the results acquired by the above experiments. As the results, we obtained that lateral spread increases with increasing roll velocity and roll diameter. And also, we found out production time decreases with increasing reduction and roll velocity. Finally, we suggested the forming condition contributing to the formability of flange part and short production time. And we could make forming cycle decrease by 58.3 percent and flange height increase by 15.9 percent.

Key Words:SMC, Roll Forming, Forming process, Lateral spread, Short production time