Flange processing technology

A flange is a component that connects pipes, valves, pumps, and other equipment to form a piping system and facilitate cleaning, maintenance, and replacement. The shape of the flange is usually circular, and it is usually used in pairs to connect with the pipeline or equipment through bolts and gaskets to ensure its mechanical strength and tightness.

The processing of flanges involves several stages, from the selection of materials to the treatment of the surface. The following is the process for making flanges:

1. Material selection
Selecting the right material is the first step in the flange processing process. The common material choice is alloy steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, etc., and the selection is based on the temperature, pressure and corrosion resistance needs of the application. For example, stainless steel is suitable for highly corrosive environments, while carbon steel is suitable for ordinary industrial applications.


2. Material cutting and forming
The large metal sheet is cut into small pieces suitable for the size of the flange, and the material is then heated to make it easy to process later.


3. Heat treatment
The main methods of heat treatment of flanges are annealing, quenching and tempering. The purpose of heat treatment is to improve the mechanical properties of the flange, enhance its elasticity, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.


4. Forming and forging
There are two main methods of forging: cold forging and hot forging. The forging process determines the final structure and shape of the flange.
Cold forging: Pressure forming at room temperature, suitable for small flanges.
Hot forging: The metal is heated to high temperature and formed under high pressure, suitable for forging large size or high strength flanges.


5. Finishing
After the flange is initially formed, it is finished to achieve precise dimensions and tolerances.
It mainly includes:
Sealing surface dressing: to ensure its good sealing performance.
Edge chamfering: Increases the strength of the connection.
Drilling: Reserve holes for bolt connection.
CNC (Computer numerical control) machines are usually used in the machining process to ensure accuracy and consistency.


6. Surface treatment
Flanges are ground or polished to enhance their surface finish, remove surface defects, and improve their appearance.
For special purpose flanges, coating or chemical treatment can be used to enhance the corrosion resistance.


7. Inspection and quality control
Each flange goes through a rigorous testing procedure, including:
Dimensional check: The size of the flange is checked to ensure that it meets the manufacturing standards.
Surface inspection: The detection of its surface to eliminate surface defects.
Non-destructive testing: such as ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, to ensure that there are no cracks or other defects inside.
At the end of the inspection, the flange is marked, indicating the specification, material and production standard.

Conclusion:

The manufacture of flanges is a complex and delicate process, and each step is designed to ensure their performance and reliability in actual use. After heat treatment, forging, processing, surface treatment and strict quality control, the final production flange has high strength, corrosion resistance and excellent sealing properties. Flanges are widely used in pipe connections, equipment interfaces and sealing systems, and their manufacturing standards and markings help verify and match when used.