Integration of an automatic hot wire rod testing systems in a three-strand rod mill

摘要

The requirements which wire rod has to meet with regard to surface quality are becoming ever more precise due to new further processing techniques, resulting in defined demands on the part of the end customers and users. The hot wire rod testing system is designed to help minimise waste and assure a high quality level through early detection of defects. An eddy-current testing system has been integrated into the three-strand rod mill of Ispat Walzdraht Hochfeld GmbH to continuously inspect the surface of the hot wire rod. The system is characterised by a fully automatic mode of testing, enhanced possibilities to detect process-caused defects, an on-line visual display capability, and user-friendly archiving of the test results. A host computer makes various setpoint and actual data available in good time to the testing system prior to the surface inspection. The improvement in efficiency and quality achieved through use of the system is illustrated by means of practical examples.