Increased Life for Steel-Slitter Guide Rolls

There has been some success in continuing efforts to increase the service lifetimes of the guide rolls in hot-roll-slitter machines in the steel industry. In these machines, hardened knives are used to slice sheets of steel from large steel coils. The sheets are up to 0.375 in. (9.525 mm) thick and have various lengths and widths. A steel coil to be cut is positioned in a hot-roll-slitter machine by use of four guide rolls (two on each side) that spin as the steel passes between them on the way to the knives. The guide rolls are thus subjected to harsh grating and scraping conditions as well as high-pressure rubbing and friction as the coil is unwound to be sliced. Consequently, deep grooves are quickly worn into the guide rolls, making it necessary to replace the guide rolls and thereby causing several hours of down time.