Recent developments and future trends in cross wedge rolling

Abstract

This review article is devoted to cross wedge rolling (CWR), a technique for manufacturing parts such as stepped axles and shafts as well as preforms for further processing on forging presses. First, little-known facts about the history of CWR before World War 2 are given. After that, a focus is put on the developments in CWR after 2010, because the advances made between World War 2 and 2010 have already been comprehensively described in the specialist literature. 8 research problems relating to CWR are distinguished: CWR of hollow parts, CWR of parts made of non-ferrous metals, CWR of hybrid parts, warm CWR, the formation of end cavities, CWR of large-size parts, material fracture in CWR, and modelling CWR processes. Each of these problems is discussed in detail. Finally, future trends and developments in CWR, which will – in the author's opinion – become dominant, are presented.