Making rings from tube stock

摘要

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for making rings from tube stock (10) by a part-off rolling tool (12,15) which is advanced radially into the tube stock to form successive rings, e.g. annular blanks for subsequent roll forming into bearing rings. The tube stock is indexed forward after separation of each ring. Errors in the length of tube stock indexed forward each time are contained by forming a locating groove (47) on the tube stock by means of a groove-rolling tool (40) set at an appropriate axial distance from the part-off rolling tool (12) and moved radially with it. In the next cycle the groove (47) automatically centers the part-off tool as the latter begins its advance into the tube stock, so as to give the correct axial length of the finished ring. The part-off tool is stopped before fully penetrating the tube wall, which is then machined. Final separation takes place during this machining or in a subsequent finishing pass by the part-off tool.