Prototype Ring Roller

Sam · Jul 4, 2008

Here are a couple of photos of the first ring roller me and my mate built in California in 1997. I have just found the photos at the back of my toolbox they are in a bit of a state with paint oversparay.
It used 1 inch pillowblock bearings with 1 inch bright bar as the rollers to form flat and box section shaft collars were used as guides on the outer rollers to keep the section you were rolling central in the rollers.The jack applies the pressure to the central drive wheel to give the required rad.
The last two photos show how it has progressed over the years.

Ian B · Jul 5, 2008

Sam,

Thanks for posting the photos, especially of the prototype; that's a clever piece of kit. I like how you've arranged for all 3 rollers to be driven, and to absorb the slack in the chain.

The mass produced version doesn't appear to have the "3 wheel drive" that the original did, I guess because of cost. Did the original drive the bar through the rollers better, with less slippage?

Thanks,

Ian

Sam · Jul 5, 2008

Yes cost was the issue the original was driven by the three rollers to stop slipage,we overcame the problem of slipping and less drive by puting a light knurl on the drive wheel which is also a larger dia.and passes the section through a lot quicker.

Ian B · Jul 5, 2008

Sam,

That makes sense; the original used bright bar as rollers; are the knurled rollers on the production model ardened after knurling? I've found that a knurl pattern wears pretty quickly on mild steel, and soon feels smooth.

Sam · Jul 5, 2008

All the shafts are hardened and they run in needle roller bearings.

COMP · Jul 6, 2008

looks good

chunkolini · Jan 11, 2009

I laughed out lod when I was scrolling through the pictures. Thinking this looks vaguely familiar.
Turns out I was in touch with sammor his coleagues recently about buying one of these, when I have saved up the cash that is.
Chunko'.

irondarren · Jan 11, 2009

Sam, the plates that form the sides of you production ring roller are they laser cut?

Sam · Jan 12, 2009

chunkolini said:
I laughed out lod when I was scrolling through the pictures. Thinking this looks vaguely familiar.
Turns out I was in touch with sammor his coleagues recently about buying one of these, when I have saved up the cash that is.
Chunko'.

It would have been me there is only me.

irondarren said:
Sam, the plates that form the sides of you production ring roller are they laser cut?

Yes they are laser cut the first ones i built were done with my plasma but ended up spending too much time on cleaning up the edges.

ghound · Jan 12, 2009

I bought this roller a lot of years back, and dug it out of an old outhouse at the weekend. Looks like a few birds have been using it as a perch lol
From memory i'ts turkish made and the rollers split to take various types of sections etc.
If anyone is making one simular and needs any pics of the inner workings i can post them up.

It looked like this when it was new lol

Sam · Jan 23, 2009

Another batch ready to be boxed for shipping!

wyn · Jan 23, 2009

Hello Sam,

Do your ring rollers use two opposing cones, would they then cover various sizes of pipe/tube?

Sam · Jan 23, 2009

Correct! By using a V you can roll a multitude of different dia. of pipe up to 48.3mm dia on the heavier wall 3mm it will roll solid as well probably about 1 1/4" in dia and 1" in square. You can also roll box section diamond form across the corners using the V rollers and 1/4 flat bar on edge using the V but is capable of rolling 1/2 on edge using the v drive wheel and the other outer rollers. I can also get sets of rollers machined to roll thin wall tubing eg: 1.5 wall up to 50mm dia. Picture shown is 1 1/2 1.5mm wall tube rolled to 450 internal dia which was rolled using the larger machine MKY2K but shown in the economy bender.

irondarren · Jan 23, 2009

Sam shouldn't keep showing pictures of the ring rollers. This tight bunch on here will look at yours and make there own, mean your missing out on sales

Archie · Jan 23, 2009

How thick is that plate? 5mm? :whistle:

Sam · Jan 23, 2009

Will cost more to make a one off time you get hardening done source the parts bearings collars etc. time spent machining and guess work.

Drains · Jan 23, 2009

Sam. See that ring in the economy bender photo - can it roll that or not?

Sam · Jan 23, 2009

That tube was rolled using the MKY2K bender not the economy you need the wider span between the outer rollers and different formers than what is supplied as standard. There is also waste when forming the complete circle eg a tail on each end which does not pass through the drive rolls. I rolled the tube to use as an example when I had a stand at MACH 2006 down at the NEC in Birmingham.

Drains · Jan 23, 2009

So your answer's no?

Is that a publicity photo Sam?

Welderpaul · Jan 23, 2009

Thats some bit of kit to roll 48.3 x 3.0 CHS.
Is it single or three phase?

Prototype Ring Roller

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