Analysis of a Novel Automatic Control Approach for the Free Forging Hammer

This paper proposes an electro-hydraulic servo control method and realizes the automatic control and remote control of free forging hammers for the first time. A configuration and control strategy for the program-control free forging hammer are constructed. Based on the configuration, a single-acting differential servo cylinder system is proposed to drive the follow-up spool valve and then control the motion state of the hammerhead. Furthermore, a non-contact measurement method is adopted to detect the real-time position of the hammerhead, and the installation position of the measuring sensor is isolated from the hammer body and foundation, thereby reducing the influence of vibration and impact on the accuracy of the feedback signal and ensuring the successive forming process of the forging hammer. In addition, a blow energy model of the forging hammer processing system is established, and a fuzzy-PID control scheme for the forging hammer is then adopted. Based on the control strategy, the striking accuracy of the proposed automatic forging hammer is significantly improved compared with the traditional forging hammer. Finally, the method is applied to an 8 MN forging hammer, and the results show its better processing performance than traditional hammers in terms of all indices.