Experimental Investigations on Thickness Variation of AA 6082 Flow-Formed Tubes: A Taguchi’s Approach

Flow-forming is eco-friendly, chip less metal forming process. A single roller flow forming machine has been used to manufacture the thin-walled tubes of AA6082 alloy. The effect of process parameters on the Thickness variation of flow formed tubes have been studied by employing Taguchi method. The main flow-forming parameters selected for the present investigation are axial feed of the roller, speed of the mandrel, and thickness reduction. The effects of these input parameters on the response, Thickness variation (t_r) have been critically studied. It has been found that the axial feed of the roller and speed of the mandrel are the most important process parameters influencing the thickness variation of flow formed tube. The tubes with Thickness variation of 0.04 mm produced by flow forming process when the process parameters were set at their optimum values.