Method and apparatus for finish rolling workpieces of substantially circular cross-section to a selected diameter

In an apparatus for finish rolling workpieces of substantially circular cross-section to a selected diameter, a combination comprising two rolls arranged for engaging a workpiece at circumferentially spaced portions;

• means supporting said rolls turnable about their axis and at least one of said rolls movable normal to its axis toward the other of said two rolls;
• means for moving at least said one roll toward the other of said two rolls until the portions of the rolls engaging the workpiece has reached a predetermined distance from each other in accordance with a selected finished diameter of the workpiece;
• measuring means having a pair of feelers engaging peripheral portions of said rolls facing each other spaced from and adjacent the portions thereof engaged by said workpiece to established when said predetermined distance of said rolls from each other is reached;
• switch means connected to said measuring means for reversing movement of said at least one roll after said predetermined distance has been reached;
• and means connected between said measuring means and said moving means and cooperating with the latter for moving said at least one roll toward and respectively away from the other while in engagement with said workpiece with a speed not greater than 0.1 mm per revolution of the workpiece.