Past developments, current applications and trends in the cross wedge rolling process

Cross wedge rolling is a manufacturing process that has been used industrially in only relatively recent times although research and development has been ongoing for many years. The process enables axisymmetrical parts such as stepped shafts, ball studs and pins to be produced in a single operation. In this paper, a historical perspective tracing developments in machines and techniques is given. Five types of machine and tooling configuration are discussed together with areas in which the cross wedge rolling process is being applied. Lastly, current research and trends for future applications are described.