Chapter 7
- Designing for Stamping Production
Slide Forming
Slide forming equipment is used for the production of wire
forms, formed stampings and assemblies as shown in Figure 28.
Equipment capabilities range in material sizes from the
smallest to 1Ž2" (12.7 mm) diameter wire and strip sizes to 3Ž16"
(4.76 mm) thick and 8" (203.2 mm) wide.
Figure 28. Typical wire
forms, formed stampings and assemblies produced on slide forming equipment.
Fourslide machine. A machine, either
horizontal or vertical, used to fabricate formed metal stampings and wire forms, usually
by the action of four forming slides acting upon a stationary mandrel or center tool. See
Figure 29.
Multiple slide machine is similar to the
four-slide, capable of producing complicated stampings that require features including
tapping, coining and assembled contacts. See Figure 29.
Rotary slide machine is a vertical forming
machine with the ability to place several forming slides radially around the center tool
to produce intricately formed stampings and wire forms. See Figure 29.
Linear forming machine is a vertical
forming machine with the ability to place several opposing slides arranged in a linear
fashion on both the front and back sides of the tooling area providing the ability to
produce very complicated stampings and assemblies. See Figure 29.
Machine Operation
The basic slide forming machine operates as follows: (1) wire or strip
stock is pulled off a stock reel by a positive grip feed; (2) the material is advanced
through a press section or attachement; (3) a blank is then severed from the strip by the
cut-off unit; (4) the metal is bent around the mandrel by the action of a number of cam
driven forming tools; (5) a stripping motion positively clears the part from the mandrel.
The relative simplicity of tooling and the economic advantage of the
slide forming process can be observed by comparing the fourslide method of production with
the progressive die method illustrated in Figure 30.
Advantages of the Slide Forming Process
Figures 31 and 32 illustrate two major advantages of the slide forming
process: (1) the bends are perpendicular to the grain direction, resulting in a stronger
part; and (2) in many instances there is no need for a carrier, reducing material
requirements. Other advantages include the ability to adjust or rework individual slide
mounted tools, control of burr direction and the ability to include value added operations
such as threading or assembly. Wire as well as strip stock can be formed with equal ease.
Limitations
Limitations of the process include the lack of high press tonnage, and
the inability to complete deep drawn shapes.
Figure. 30. The relative simplicity of tooling
and the economic advantage of the slide forming process are illustrated in this comparison
of the slide forming method of production with the progressive die method.
Figure 31. Configuration of tooling in a typical slide
forming operation.
Figure 32. The mechanical and tooling
capabilities of a typical multiple slide forming machine are extensive.
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Excerpt taken from Design Guidelines for Metal Stampings and Fabrications -- 2nd Edition copyright © 1995 Precision Metalforming Association
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