Optimization of Hot Forging Process of Flange Type Wheel Bearings by Statistical Technique

통계적 기법을 활용한 플랜지형 휠베어링의 열간단조 공정 최적화

Due to the shape of spindle with small diameter and heavy section, rapid cooling is difficult. It is difficult to fabricate the tapered wheel bearings with fine microstructure. Thus, their mechanical characteristics, such as yield strength and fatigue resistance, decrease. Producing the tapered wheel bearings with good workability during orbital forming after hot forging, hot forging process with several process parameters was optimized by means of statistical technique of Six-Sigma scheme. As a result, the lower heating temperature is, the lower the hardness and yield strength of forgings are. Also, the faster conveyer velocity is, the lower the hardness and yield strength of forgings are. To avoid therefore occurrence of the surface rupture during orbital forming, the heating temperature should be controlled as low as possible and the conveyer velocity should be controlled as fast as possible.