Abstract: The mechanism of pre-roll ploughing for 3D fins on the outside surface of copper tube was studied systematically, and especially the process and conditions of 3D fin formation were analyzed. The right mathematical model was also established. Based on the volume of fin ploughed out is equal to the volume of the metal extruded up by the extruding face of the tool, the relations between fin height, preroll ploughing feed and pre-roll ploughing depth have been achieved. With the increase of pre-roll ploughing depth which must be equal to groove depth, the fin height gradually becomes larger. There are different critical feeds with the various depths of pre-roll ploughing. The pre-roll ploughing feed is the critical one, the height of fin is largest. And when the feed is above the critical one, the fin height will reduce with the increase of feed. The theoretical analysis basically accords with experimental results.

Key words: pre-roll ploughing; copper 3D outside fin tube; heat transfer