Design and optimization of a novel multi-functional sling for super-heavy castings and forgings

A sling is a kind of auxiliary equipment in the manufacturing process of castings and forgings. There are some problems, such as a single function, complex operation, and lack of a safety evaluation index, in the design and application of slings. In this paper, a novel multi-functional sling is designed, and it can carry out the transportation, turning over, erection, and lifting of 550 tons of castings and forgings. A clamping coefficient index is defined, and the mechanical model of the sling is established to evaluate whether it can safely hold castings and forgings. Then, an optimization model with a clamping coefficient is established to reduce the weight and maintain the load-bearing performance. The genetic algorithm is adopted, and the total weight is reduced by 3.4%. Finally, the mechanical performances are verified by finite element analysis and experiment, and the results indicate that the sling can meet the design requirements.