Improving the quality of wheelset axles at the manufacturing stage

The article presents the results of developing solutions in terms of improving the quality of wheelset axles at the manufacturing stage. As a starting position, it is shown that the rational level of quality of the axles of wheelsets depends on the parameters of the seating surfaces of the rolling bearings and can be achieved with a strictly defined range of shape accuracy values. The range of values of the shape accuracy indicators is determined on the basis of a technical and economic assessment as a combination of manufacturing costs and the technical effect that is provided when providing the parameters of the service purpose of the node. When ensuring rational values of the accuracy of the shape of the landing surfaces of the axles of wheelsets in the conditions of automated production, two significant problems arise: the problem of control and management of the technological system. The article developed a method for controlling deviations of the shape in the cross section, which allows to increase the reliability of the results by eliminating errors that distort the result. Such errors include inaccuracy of the installation of the measured object, eccentricity, etc. Mathematical model of device for automatic provision of required parameters of shape accuracy is also developed. The use of the device also makes it possible to increase the efficiency of using the cutting tool, as well as to avoid the use of abrasive processing. The article provides a comparison of the basic method of manufacturing wheelset axles and the proposed one. The differential method was used as a tool. The results showed that the proposed solution was superior to the base case.