SMS GROUP GMBH

A metallurgical production plant has a plurality of plant parts. An input quality window defines required quality characteristics of the input product to each plant part. An output quality window defines permissible quality characteristics of the output product of each plant part. The output quality window of an upstream plant part corresponds to the input quality window of the downstream plant part. A process window defines the setting values that can be implemented by the respective plant part. Each plant part detects the current state by sensors and adapts the process window to the detected current state. A system for controlling the production plant determines setting values for the respective plant automation unit of each plant part. The setting values are selected within the process windows such that the product produced in the production plant meets the quality characteristics required by the input quality windows and output quality windows.

A system for controlling a production plant includes a plant automation unit for monitoring and control of the production process within the production plant. A production planning system has information concerning the products to be produced. A model generator generates at least one prediction model for products produced in the production plant. The model generator takes into account the results of the monitoring of the production plant when generating the at least one prediction model. A production optimizer determines an optimized production process within the production plant on the basis of data from the plant automation unit, the production planning system, and the prediction model generated by the model generator. The production optimizer takes into account the production-related specifications of the individual plant parts. A production plant control unit generates target specifications for the plant automation unit on the basis of the optimized production process determined by the production optimizer.

A method for automatic pass schedule calculation during forging, in particular radial forging, of stepped shafts made of metal workpieces, in particular steel, in a forging machine, preferably a radial forging machine with at least four forging tools arranged around the circumference of the workpiece, which are set up and adapted for simultaneous forging the workpiece and/or the stepped shaft, includes: entering starting parameters for the forging process, preferably radial forging process, into a pass schedule calculation program; specifying target parameters for the forging process, preferably radial forging process; and calculating, by the pass schedule calculation program, based on these start and target parameters, a pass plan or calculated a forge sequence. A control and/or regulation unit and a forging machine for carrying out the method are disclosed.

Radial forging of long products made of metal workpieces in a radial forging machine uses at least four forging tools arranged around the circumference of the workpiece, which are set up and adapted to simultaneously carry out the forging operation. An automatic pass schedule calculation includes entering start parameters for the radial forging process into a pass schedule calculation program and defining target parameters for the radial forging process. The pass schedule calculation program calculates a pass schedule or a forging sequence based on these start and target parameters. The pass schedule calculation program determines a temperature variation and the temperature distribution over the cross section of the long product and takes into account the change in shape during radial forging.

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for the internal welding of pipes and profiles, comprising a cantilever arm ( 2, 2 a ), which is secured to a suspension ( 3 ), which cantilever arm can be inserted into the pipe or profile to be welded and on which a welding head ( 4 ) is displaceably attached, the cantilever arm ( 2, 2 a ) further comprising at least one laser ( 5 ) and at least one camera ( 6 ). To avoid the disadvantageous effects of magnetism and heat on the position of the welding head ( 4 ), the invention proposes that a laser ( 5 ) is attached on the suspension ( 3 ), and a camera ( 6 ) for observing the laser beam ( 5 a ) is attached on the end of the cantilever arm ( 3 ) or on the welding head ( 4 ). A correction signal is calculated from the change in position of the laser beam ( 5 a ) observed with the camera ( 6 ) and forwarded to a control unit for adjusting the welding head ( 4 ) by means of displacement devices ( 8, 9 ).

A butt joint deep penetration laser welding method is used for joining facing end sections of flat steel products, each having a carbon content CS<0.02%. In order to improve such a method such that an improved weld quality in terms of geometry and strength is achievable with it, at least one carbon-containing carrier material is inserted into a butt joint gap between the end sections, the carbon content of which is C T ≥20·C S , preferably C T ≥100·C S , and/or carbon is inserted into the butt joint gap or applied to at least one end section, such that the volume of the carbon inserted into the butt joint gap corresponds to 1% to 20% of the volume of a melt produced by a butt joint deep penetration laser welding process.

A method ascertains control variables for active profile and flatness control elements for at least one rolling stand for hot rolling metal strip with a plurality of i=1 . . . I successive passes and for ascertaining profile and center flatness values for the hot-rolled metal strip. The occurrence of fluctuations in the center flatness of the metal strip after the individual passes and the resulting disadvantages for the rolling stability and the product quality are prevented. The method provides that, also for the target center flatness of the metal strip after a predetermined pass k with i=1 . . . <k< . . . I and for the target center flatness after the subsequent passes, pass-specific interval ranges are also specified in each case, and in that the successive calculation of the control variables and profile values is then carried out taking into account such additional specifications as well.

Radial forging of long products made of metal workpieces in a radial forging machine uses at least four forging tools arranged around the circumference of the workpiece, which are set up and adapted to simultaneously carry out the forging operation. An automatic pass schedule calculation includes entering start parameters for the radial forging process into a pass schedule calculation program and defining target parameters for the radial forging process. The pass schedule calculation program calculates a pass schedule or a forging sequence based on these start and target parameters. The pass schedule calculation program determines a temperature variation and the temperature distribution over the cross section of the long product and takes into account the change in shape during radial forging.

The invention relates to a system ( 1 ) for controlling a production plant ( 3 ) consisting of a plurality of plant parts ( 2 ), in particular a metallurgical production plant for producing industrial goods such as metal semi-finished products and/or metal end products, wherein each plant part ( 2 ) has an input quality window ( 4 ), an output quality window ( 5 ) and a process window ( 6 ), wherein the input quality window ( 4 ) of a plant part ( 2 ) defines the quality characteristics of the input product that are required by the plant part ( 2 ) and the output quality window ( 5 ) of a plant part ( 2 ) defines the quality characteristics of the output product that are allowed by the plant part ( 2 ) after processing the input product, wherein, in a production plant ( 3 ) consisting of the plurality of plant parts ( 2 ), the output quality window ( 5 ) of an upstream plant part ( 2 ) corresponds to the input quality window ( 4 ) of the downstream plant part ( 2 ), wherein the process window ( 6 ) defines the setting values ( 7 ) that can be implemented by the respective plant part ( 2 ) for a plant automation unit of the plant part ( 2 ), wherein each plant part ( 2 ) detects the current state by means of sensors ( 8 ) and adapts the process window ( 6 ) of the plant part ( 2 ) to the detected current state, and wherein the system ( 1 ) for controlling the production plant ( 3 ) consisting of the plurality of plant parts ( 2 ) determines setting values ( 7 ) for the respective plant automation unit for each plant part ( 2 ), the setting values being within the process windows ( 6 ) and that the product produced in the production plant ( 3 ) meets the quality characteristics required by the input quality windows ( 4 ) and output quality windows ( 5 ) of the plurality of plant parts ( 2 ). The invention further relates to a corresponding method and computer program.

A butt joint deep penetration laser welding method is used for joining facing end sections of flat steel products, each having a carbon content CS<0.02%. In order to improve such a method such that an improved weld quality in terms of geometry and strength is achievable with it, at least one carbon-containing carrier material is inserted into a butt joint gap between the end sections, the carbon content of which is C T ≥20·C S , preferably C T ≥100·C S , and/or carbon is inserted into the butt joint gap or applied to at least one end section, such that the volume of the carbon inserted into the butt joint gap corresponds to 1% to 20% of the volume of a melt produced by a butt joint deep penetration laser welding process.