Millmate roll force systems Introduction

A measurement technology offering high accuracy is a prerequisite for modern rolling mills of today

System overview ABB’s Millmate rollforce system in rolling mills

The constant striving to achieve optimum process quality and the highest possible productivity is the essential goal of modern production units.

Rolled products are called upon to meet ever stricter demands, and as a consequence so is also rolling mill equipment. A truly measured roll force is crucial in achieving correct roll gap settings, true force distribution from operator side to drive side of your mill and supervision of the backup bearings and roll eccentricity.

The Millmate roll force system incorporates all these essential features.

The Millmate roll force load cells act as integrated parts of the mill stand. The rock-solid Pressductor® load cell design in combination with the intelligent and reliable communication functions are crucial keys to true roll force measurement.

The Millmate roll force system consists of a Millmate Controller (MC 400) and two load cells with matching units. The various types and the wide load range of Millmate roll force load cells cover practically all conceivable roll force measurement applications.

The ABB equipment is easy to install and operate. We offer installation support as well as long-term after sales supply and support. Due to ABB’s extensive experience in the rolling mill industry, we can offer outstanding application know-how in this particular field.

Pressductor® Technology

Measurement principle

ABB’s Millmate roll force load cells are based on the well-known Pressductor® principle patented in 1954, utilizing the magneto-elastic effect, according to which the magnetic properties of steel are influenced by mechanical forces acting on it.

700% of nominal load. The highest permissible single loading without mechanical damage to the load cell

300% of nominal load. The highest permissible load without permanent change of data

02 Load cell application in hot rolling mill

03 The measurement principle is based on the magneto- elastic effect, according to which the magnetic properties of the material are influenced by mechanical stress. The transducer is magnetized via the primary coil.

An electrical voltage proportional to the applied force is induced in the secondary coil

04 Load cell application in cold rolling mill

In the transducer body there are four holes. Two coils at right angle to each other are winded through these holes. One winding (the primary) is supplied with an alternating current; the other winding (the secondary) acts as a measurement winding. Since the two windings are at right angle to each other, there is no magnetic coupling between them as long as there is no load acting on the transducer body

If the transducer body is loaded (as shown in figure 3), the field pattern changes. The permeability of the steel is reduced in the direction of the force and increase in the direction at right angles. The result is a change in the symmetry of the magnetic flux, so that some of the flux induces a voltage in the secondary winding. The induced voltage is proportional to the load.

Right from the beginning of the Pressductor era a transducer based on this measurement principle turned out to be perfect for the rolling mill environment.

The key factors are:

• No compression of the transducer is needed to achieve a reliable signal corresponding to the applied force.

• An overload capacity of up to 700 % is achieved by utilizing only a small part of the elasticity of steel.

• The standard load cell consists of 1,500 to 2,000 transducers, always ensuring a true roll force measurement, even if the load is unevenly distributed.

• Signal-to-noise level is outstanding due to the high signal output from the load cell (500 mV).\

The rock-solid design of the Pressductor load cells fulfils these key factors and will assure you many years of accurate measurements in your rolling mill.
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