Rolling mill delivering constant thickness strip - has operating conditions optimised using computer controlled variable factors

The thickness of steel strip after passing between the rollers (I) of a rolling mill is controlled by a computer. The values of the factors on which the thickness depends are the initial thickness of the strip, the difference between the actual roller position and the required roller position, and the input velocity. Also taken into account is the spring constant of the roll stand and the increase in the slope of the plastic deformative curve. These values are fed into the computer together with the measured thickness of the strip as it leaves the rollers. The computer then determines the required values of the various factors in order to maintain the required final thickness.