Springer Verlag, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 5-8(79), p. 779-792
DOI: 10.1007/s00170-015-6858-z
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Mechanical components with easy assembly, especially those that use the threading process, are essential for industrial products. Fixtures using threaded components are employed from the aircraft to medical industry. The mechanical fixings by tapping, for example, in the biomedical field have the function of facilitating the initial insertion of orthopedic and dental components and of ensuring excellent grip. The aim of this work was to study the external thread by the forming process in Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy using a forming head with three rollers. Ti-6Al-4v titanium alloy was used due to its excellent mechanical properties and wide application as an aircraft and mechanical component material. A statistical methodology (DoE) was performed to identify and evaluate the effect of the factors (initial diameter, forming speed, and measuring position) on the responses; hardness, fill rate, and thread profile. The results showed that the characteristics of the threads depend on the factors of the threading processes. The forming and machining speeds were the main parameters affecting the process. The hardness in the thread’s crest was lower than at the base and the middle regions. Finally, the threads reached a desired profile with an excellent fill rate not only for formed threads but also for machined threads.