A Comparative Study of Helical and Cross-Wedge Rolling Processes for Producing Ball Studs

This paper presents two rolling technologies: cross-wedge rolling (CWR) and helical-wedge rolling (HWR). The two rolling processes were compared using the example of rolling a ball stud forging. The technologies were modeled in the finite element model (FEM) environment. Calculations were performed to obtain distributions of strain and the Cockcroft–Latham damage criterion. The investigated processes were also performed under real-life conditions. The results of the experiments were used to compare the force and energy parameters of the rolling technologies. Tests were also carried out to investigate the microstructure of the studs and a grain size after rolling. The state of the macrostructure, i.e., the grain flow lines, was also compared. The experiments showed that HWR was a more energy-efficient process.