Magnesium alloy pipe forming device and control method thereof

Abstract

A magnesium alloy pipe forming device is provided. The device includes a heater unit that heats a workpiece to a predetermined temperature and maintains the elevated temperature of the workpiece, a mold unit that provides a forming space whose size changes according to a rotational force generated by rotation of the mold unit, a transfer unit that moves the heated workpiece to the forming space, and a processor that adjusts the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit according to a casting size of the heated workpiece, forms and processes the workpiece based on the size of the provided forming space that changes according to the rotational angular velocity, and adjusts the heating performance of the heater unit according to the rotational angular velocity. The device performs precise plastic forming on magnesium alloys, maintaining consistent quality of magnesium alloy formed articles and thereby reducing the reject rate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a magnesium alloy pipe forming device and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a magnesium alloy pipe forming device and a control method thereof that forms a magnesium alloy pipe by controlling the rotational angular velocity of a mold unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Magnesium alloys are lightweight metallic materials with low density among available structural materials, and have attracted attention due to their excellent properties such as high specific strength, machinability, and vibration absorption.

[0003] In recent years, magnesium alloys have gradually replaced aluminum alloys in response to the demand for lightweight transportation equipment to improve fuel efficiency. Magnesium alloys are also increasingly being used in products such as mobile phones and laptops in response to the demand for lightweight, compact, and excellent electromagnetic shielding.

[0004] However, magnesium alloys have relatively low strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance compared to aluminum alloys. Although the ductility of magnesium alloys can be improved by increasing their processing temperature, their use is still limited due to the difficulty of compressing magnesium alloys into products with complex shapes and sharp corners.

[0005] Therefore, in order to improve the formability of magnesium alloy workpieces, warm forming at temperatures above 200°C, at which non-surface slip is activated, is conventionally carried out.

[0006] There is an increasing demand for the development of various techniques to form magnesium alloys more precisely and accurately while performing warm forming on magnesium alloys. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a forming device and a control method thereof for forming a magnesium alloy pipe by controlling the rotational angular velocity of a mold unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a magnesium alloy pipe forming device comprising: a heater unit that heats a workpiece to a predetermined temperature and maintains the elevated temperature of the workpiece; a mold unit that provides a forming space whose size changes according to a rotational force generated by rotation of the mold unit; a transfer unit that moves the heated workpiece to the forming space; and a processor that adjusts the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit according to a casting size of the heated workpiece, forms and processes the workpiece based on the size of the provided forming space that changes according to the rotational angular velocity, and adjusts the heating performance of the heater unit according to the rotational angular velocity.

[0009] The mold unit can include a plurality of mold frames, each of which changes its distance from the rotation axis in response to the rotation force, and the processor can adjust the size of the molding space based on the distance from the rotation axis.

[0010] The processor can increase the separation distance from the rotation axis by increasing the rotation angular velocity of the mold unit as the casting size of the heated workpiece increases, and can decrease the separation distance from the rotation axis by decreasing the rotation angular velocity of the mold unit as the casting size of the heated workpiece decreases.

[0011] The heater unit may include a high-frequency heater unit and an air heater unit, the high-frequency heater unit being arranged around the front end of the mold unit to heat the workpiece to a predetermined temperature before the workpiece enters the molding space and to maintain the elevated temperature of the workpiece, and the air heater unit being arranged on one side of the mold unit and on one side of the workpiece entering the mold unit to maintain the elevated temperature of the workpiece.

[0012] The processor may increase the heating capacity of the air heater unit as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit is increased, and decrease the heating capacity of the air heater unit as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit is decreased.

[0013] The processor can control the radio frequency heater unit to increase and maintain the temperature of the radio frequency heater unit within a range of 200°C to 400°C, control the air heater unit to maintain the temperature of the air heater unit within a range of 200°C to 400°C, and adjust the rotation speed of the mold unit within a range of 20 revolutions per minute (RPM) to 400 revolutions per minute (RPM).

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a control method for a magnesium alloy pipe forming device, the method including: heating a workpiece to a predetermined temperature and maintaining the elevated temperature of the workpiece; rotating a mold unit to generate a rotational force and changing the size of the forming space according to the generated rotational force; moving the heated workpiece to the forming space; adjusting the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit according to the casting size of the heated workpiece; forming and processing the workpiece based on the size of the provided forming space which is changed according to the rotational angular velocity; and adjusting the heating performance of a heater unit according to the rotational angular velocity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As described above, the magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can perform precise plastic forming processes on magnesium alloys, maintain consistent quality of magnesium alloy formed articles, and thereby reduce the reject rate. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a change in the size of a molding space due to rotation of a mold unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams for explaining operation steps of a high-frequency heater unit and an air heater unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnesium alloy formed article formed by a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, when describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of known functions or configurations of the present disclosure will be omitted if it is determined that such descriptions may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present disclosure, and may be interpreted in various ways depending on the intentions or practices of users or operators. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be interpreted based on the content of the entire specification.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a magnesium alloy pipe forming device 100 may include a heater unit 110, a mold unit 120, a transfer unit 130, and a processor 140.

[0020] Here, the magnesium alloy pipe forming device 100 heats the object to be processed, i.e., the magnesium alloy, maintains the elevated temperature, and applies pressure to the magnesium alloy while rotating it using the mold unit 120 described below, thereby performing plastic forming.

[0021] In particular, the heater unit 110 can heat the workpiece to a predetermined temperature and maintain the elevated temperature of the workpiece. For this purpose, the heater unit 110 can be disposed on the path of movement of the workpiece so that the elevated temperature is maintained from before the workpiece is input into the magnesium alloy pipe forming device 100 until the workpiece is discharged to the outside after undergoing the forming process.

[0022] On the other hand, the workpiece according to an embodiment of the present disclosure mainly has the shape of a cylindrical pipe made of a magnesium alloy material, and the diameter or radius of the pipe can be adjusted by plastic forming. This process can be called a casting process, and the diameter or radius of the pipe after the casting process can be defined as the casting size.

[0023] Furthermore, the mold unit 120 can be rotated around a rotation axis, and thus can provide a molding space whose size changes according to the rotational force generated by the rotation of the mold unit 120 .

[0024] Specifically, the mold unit 120 may include a plurality of mold frames, each of which may be gathered around a rotation axis. When the mold unit 120 is rotated, the plurality of mold frames are moved away from the rotation axis by a rotation force, i.e., centrifugal force, so that as the rotation force increases, the plurality of mold frames gathered around the rotation axis may gradually spread apart around the rotation axis.

[0025] In this way, the space provided by the multiple mold frames spreading apart by rotational force can be used as a molding space, and the workpiece can be moved into this molding space. The workpiece, maintained at an elevated temperature, can be plastically molded within the molding space by the pressure of each of the multiple mold frames.

[0026] The moving unit 130 moves the heated workpiece into the molding space, and can move the workpiece within a moving speed range of 5 mm / s to 100 mm / s.

[0027] Meanwhile, the processor 140 can adjust the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 according to the casting size of the heated workpiece, mold and process the workpiece based on the size of the provided molding space which changes according to the rotational angular velocity, and adjust the heating performance of the heater unit 110 according to the rotational angular velocity.

[0028] Here, the casting size of the heated workpiece refers to the size of the cross section of the heated workpiece to be formed, and can be defined as the radius or diameter size of the object based on each length of the object in the forming progress direction.

[0029] For example, when the heated workpiece is a cone-shaped molded article, the casting size can become gradually smaller as the workpiece advances in the direction of travel.

[0030] The processor 140 can also adjust the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 based on the casting size, and mold and process the workpiece based on the size of the provided molding space, which changes depending on the rotational angular velocity.

[0031] In particular, the processor 140 can perform molding such that as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 is increased, the multiple mold frames described above gradually spread apart around the rotational axis, thus increasing the size of the molding space and thereby increasing the casting size of the heated workpiece.

[0032] In particular, the processor 140 can perform molding such that as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 is increased, the multiple mold frames described above gradually spread apart around the rotational axis, thus increasing the size of the molding space and thereby increasing the casting size of the heated workpiece.

[0033] The processor 140 can also perform molding such that as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 is gradually reduced, the multiple mold frames described above are gradually brought closer to the rotation axis, thus reducing the size of the molding space and thereby reducing the casting size of the heated workpiece.

[0034] For example, if the heated workpiece has a conical shape, the cast size of the workpiece should gradually decrease as the workpiece advances in the advance direction. Thus, processor 140 can enable the workpiece to become conical such that the workpiece is formed to have a large cast size by increasing the rotational angular velocity of mold unit 120 as the heated workpiece enters the forming space, and is formed to have gradually smaller cast sizes by gradually decreasing the rotational angular velocity of mold unit 120 as the workpiece is moved in the forming advance direction after entering the forming space.

[0035] On the other hand, the processor 140 can adjust the performance of the heater unit 110 depending on the rotational angular velocity, as will be explained below.

[0036] Meanwhile, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Referring to Figure 2, in a magnesium alloy pipe forming device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, each heater unit 110 is arranged on one side of the workpiece 10, i.e., at the entrance and exit of the forming space in the mold unit 120 before the workpiece 10 enters the forming space in the mold unit 120, and the moving unit 130 can move the workpiece 10 so that it enters the forming space in the mold unit 120.

[0038] The processor 140 also heats the workpiece 10 to a predetermined temperature, controls each heater unit 110 to maintain the elevated temperature of the object, controls the moving unit 130 to move the workpiece 10 at a speed of 5 mm / s to 100 mm / s, adjusts the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120, and adjusts the casting size of the workpiece 10, thereby performing molding on the object.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a change in the size of the molding space based on the rotation of the mold unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] 3, mold unit 120 may include a plurality of mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124. Here, the plurality of mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 may include either two or four mold frames. For example, when the plurality of mold frames includes two mold frames, one mold frame may have an upwardly convex shape (hat shape), and the other frame that forms internal molding space 125 may have an arc shape corresponding to one-half of a circle, instead of an arc shape corresponding to one-quarter of a circle as shown in FIG.

[0041] In FIG. 3, the mold unit 120 includes multiple mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 that are clustered around a rotation axis, thus providing a molding space 125, while the mold unit 120 includes multiple mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 that can be moved away from the rotation axis by rotational force, i.e., centrifugal force, and the separation distance 126 of each mold frame from the rotation axis can be changed based on the strength of the rotational force when the mold unit 120 is rotated in a clockwise direction 127 around the rotation axis.

[0042] The processor 140 can also adjust the angular velocity of rotation of the mold unit 120, thereby adjusting the size of the molding space 125 based on the separation distance 126 from the axis of rotation, which is changed based on the angular velocity of rotation.

[0043] For example, if the casting size of the workpiece 10 is larger than the existing molded casting size, the processor 140 can increase the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120, thus allowing the multiple mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 to have an increased separation distance 126 from the rotation axis, thereby increasing the size of the molding space 125. As a result, the workpiece 10 can have a larger casting size.

[0044] Also, if the casting size of the workpiece 10 is smaller than the existing molded casting size, the processor 140 can reduce the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120, thus allowing the multiple mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 to have a reduced separation distance 126 from the rotation axis, thereby reducing the size of the molding space 125. As a result, the workpiece 10 can have a smaller casting size.

[0045] That is, the processor 140 can increase the separation distance 126 from the rotation axis by increasing the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 as the heated workpiece 10 has a larger casting size, and can decrease the separation distance 126 from the rotation axis by decreasing the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 as the heated workpiece 10 has a smaller casting size.

[0046] On the other hand, the heater unit 110 can include a high frequency heater unit and an air heater unit.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation steps of the high frequency heater unit and the air heater unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, the heater unit 110 may include a radio frequency heater unit 111 and a plurality of air heater units 112 .

[0049] Here, the high frequency heater unit 111 is arranged around the front end or entrance of the mold unit 120 to heat the workpiece 10 to a predetermined temperature before the workpiece 10 enters the molding space 125 and to maintain the elevated temperature.

[0050] In addition, each of the multiple air heater units 112 is arranged on one side of the mold unit 120 and one side of the workpiece 10 entering the mold unit 120, thereby being able to maintain the elevated temperature of the workpiece 10.

[0051] The reason for this arrangement is that the crystalline structure of magnesium alloys can only be changed at a certain temperature due to the characteristics of magnesium alloys, and the plastic forming process of magnesium alloys is possible at this specific temperature. Also, magnesium alloys have very high thermal conductivity and therefore a very fast cooling rate. Therefore, it is very important that magnesium alloys are maintained at elevated temperatures when their forming distance is long (e.g., 100 mm or more).

[0052] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, high frequency heater unit 111 is arranged around the entrance of mold unit 120, and multiple air heater units 112 are each arranged on one side of workpiece 10 and one side of mold unit 120 at its exit side, thereby heating workpiece 10 and enabling workpiece 10 to be maintained at an elevated temperature or isothermal temperature from the time it enters mold unit 120 until it is molded and processed and then ejected.

[0053] Meanwhile, the processor 140 can increase the heating performance of the air heater unit 112 as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 increases, and decrease the heating performance of the air heater unit 112 as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 decreases.

[0054] Specifically, as the rotational angular velocity of mold unit 120 is increased, multiple mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 can each have an increased separation distance from the rotation axis, and therefore molding space 125 can have an increased size. In this case, workpiece 10 can have an increased casting size, and therefore the cross-sectional area of ​​workpiece 10 can be increased.

[0055] Furthermore, to maintain the increased temperature of the workpiece 10 having an increased cross-sectional area, the processor 140 can increase the performance of the air heater unit 112 to discharge a larger amount of heated air. As a result, the temperature of the workpiece 10 can be maintained so that the workpiece 10 is not cooled down by the amount corresponding to the increased cross-sectional area.

[0056] Also, as the rotational angular velocity of mold unit 120 is reduced, each of multiple mold frames 121, 122, 123, and 124 can have a reduced separation distance from the rotation axis, and therefore molding space 125 can have a reduced size. In this case, workpiece 10 can have a smaller casting size, and therefore the cross-sectional area of ​​workpiece 10 can be reduced.

[0057] Additionally, to maintain the elevated temperature of the workpiece 10 having a reduced cross-sectional area, the processor 140 can reduce the performance of the air heater unit 112 to exhaust less heated air, thereby maintaining the temperature of the workpiece 10.

[0058] As described above, the processor 140 can adjust the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit 120 according to the casting size of the workpiece 10 and increase or decrease the heating performance of the heater unit 110 based on the adjusted rotational angular velocity.

[0059] Meanwhile, processor 140 can control radio frequency heater unit 111 to increase and maintain the temperature of the radio frequency heater unit within a range of 200° C. to 400° C., and therefore the predetermined temperature of workpiece 10 can also be decreased within a range of 200° C. to 400° C. Processor 140 controls air heater unit 112 to maintain the temperature of the air heater unit within a range of 200° C. to 400° C., and therefore the temperature of workpiece 10 can also be maintained within a range of 200° C. to 400° C. Processor 140 can also adjust the rotation speed of mold unit 120 within a range of 20 revolutions per minute (RPM) to 400 revolutions per minute (RPM), and adjust the rotation speed by increasing or decreasing the rotation angular velocity as described above.

[0060] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, a control method for a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes heating a workpiece to a predetermined temperature and maintaining the elevated temperature (S510); rotating a mold unit to generate a rotational force and changing the size of the forming space according to the generated rotational force (S520); moving the heated workpiece to the forming space (S530); adjusting the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit according to the casting size of the heated workpiece, forming and processing the workpiece based on the size of the provided forming space which is changed according to the rotational angular velocity, and adjusting the heating performance of the heater unit according to the rotational angular velocity (S540).

[0062] In addition, all of the operation steps of the processor 140 described above can be similarly performed by a method for controlling a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] Meanwhile, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a magnesium alloy formed article formed by a magnesium alloy pipe forming device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the formed magnesium alloy formed article or formed workpiece 10 has varying diameters or radial lengths, indicating that the cast size of the object has been varied.

[0065] The molded workpiece 10 shown in FIG. 6 can be primarily used as a golf club shaft, and it can be seen that the shaft has a varying cast size and has knots molded into its surface.

[0066] Any knot formed at the casting size or on the surface can be formed and processed using the magnesium alloy pipe forming device 100 or the control method of the magnesium alloy pipe forming device 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0067] As described above, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided that stores a program for sequentially performing the magnesium alloy pipe forming device control method according to the present disclosure.

[0068] A non-transitory computer-readable medium is a medium that stores data semi-permanently and is readable by a machine, rather than a medium that temporarily stores data, such as a register, a cache, or a memory. In particular, the various applications or programs described above can be provided by being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a hard disk, a Blu-ray disc, a universal serial bus (USB), a memory card, or a read-only memory (ROM).

[0069] Although the present disclosure has shown and described embodiments as above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure as claimed in the appended claims. It should be understood that these modifications are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a heater unit that heats the object to be processed to a predetermined temperature and maintains the elevated temperature of the object; a mold unit providing a molding space whose size changes in response to a rotational force generated by rotation of the mold unit; a moving unit that moves the heated object to be processed into the molding space; a processor that adjusts a rotational angular velocity of the mold unit according to a casting size of the heated workpiece, molds and processes the workpiece based on the size of the provided molding space that changes according to the rotational angular velocity, and adjusts a heating performance of the heater unit according to the rotational angular velocity; A magnesium alloy pipe forming device comprising:

2. the mold unit includes a plurality of mold frames, each of which changes a distance from a rotation axis in response to the rotation force; The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor adjusts the size of the molding space based on the separation distance from the axis of rotation.

3. the processor increases the separation distance from the rotation axis by increasing the rotation angular velocity of the mold unit as the heated workpiece has an increasing casting size; 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the separation distance from the axis of rotation is decreased by decreasing the angular velocity of rotation of the mold unit as the heated workpiece has a smaller casting size.

4. the heater unit includes a high-frequency heater unit and an air heater unit, the high frequency heater unit is disposed around a front end of the mold unit, and heats the workpiece to the predetermined temperature before the workpiece enters the molding space, and maintains the elevated temperature of the workpiece; 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the air heater units are disposed on one side of the mold unit and one side of the workpiece entering the mold unit to maintain the elevated temperature of the workpiece.

5. the processor increasing the heating performance of the air heater unit as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit is increased; The device of claim 4 , wherein the heating performance of the air heater unit is decreased as the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit is decreased.

6. the processor controls the radio frequency heater unit to raise and maintain the temperature of the radio frequency heater unit within a range of 200°C to 400°C; controlling the air heater unit to maintain a temperature of the air heater unit within a range of 200°C to 400°C; 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the rotational speed of the mold unit is adjusted within the range of 20 revolutions per minute (RPM) to 400 revolutions per minute (RPM).

7. A method for controlling a magnesium alloy pipe forming device, comprising: Heating an object to be processed to a predetermined temperature and maintaining the object at the elevated temperature; Rotating the mold unit to generate a rotational force, and changing the size of the molding space in response to the generated rotational force; Moving the heated object to be processed into the molding space; adjusting the rotational angular velocity of the mold unit according to the casting size of the heated workpiece; forming and processing the workpiece based on the size of the provided forming space, which is changed according to the rotational angular velocity; and adjusting the heating performance of the heater unit in response to the rotational angular velocity.

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