12.07.
2019 Tooling by Design - Slide Forming Processes | MetalForming Magazine
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Tooling by Design
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SLIDE FORMING PROCESSES
By: Peter Ulintz
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Thursday, March 28, 2019
Most of the topics addressed in this column during the
past 13 years cover metal stamping processes and dies.
However, metal forming includes more than just
stamping. In coming months, this column will examine
other metal forming processes, and associated tooling
challenges will be addressed.
This month, let’s look at slide forming.
High- Vo l u m e Ve r satility
Ideal for high-volume production of intricate springs,
spring clamps, retention clips, intricate stampings and
wire forms, slide forming machines, often referred to as
four-slide machines, come in several variations and
configurations. These include four-slide and multislide
machines produced in either horizontal or vertical
orientations, radial-forming machines and linear-forming
machines.
Fig. 1—Drive shafts, cams and slide arrangement for a simple
The basic slide forming machine, known as a four-slide, four-slide machine.
consists of a feeding device, four fixed-position forming
slides, and a forming mandrel (center tool) suspended by a bridge support straddling the back tool-slide. The slides
are driven by four shafts positioned around the outside of the machine, with the shafts connecting at the corners with
bevel gears. This arrangement allows one shaft to be driven by an electric motor. That shaft's motion drives the other
three shafts (Fig. 1). Each shaft has cams that drive the slides. Tools, attached to the slides, form the part by cutting
wire or strip stock and then pressing it around a mandrel. The shapes of the tools and the mandrel dictate the shape
of the final part (Fig. 2).
Multislide machines have up to eight
fixed-position slides, permitting extra
forming motions. Typically, multi-slide
machines, built stronger than
conventional four-slides, accommodate
thicker and wider materials. Both
machine types may be equipped with an
optional press station to accommodate
a small die for notching and punching.
A vertical slide forming machine
arranges slides and tooling in a vertical
position. Here the press operates
vertically (up and down) and the forming
Fig. 2—Slide forming tools closed around part (left), and with tools open for part
slides move in a vertical plane against a
ejection (right).
center form projecting from the machine
bed.
Not limited by fixed slide positions like their four-slide and multislide cousins, rotary slide machines are another type
of vertical-forming machine. As many as 10 adjustable slides, positioned radially around the workpiece work together
to form simple as well as more complex part shapes. Mechanical cams, programmable servomotors or both (hybrid)
may actuate the slides.
Linear-forming machines are vertical machines with the ability to place several opposing slides, arranged in a linear
fashion, on both the front and backsides of the tooling area, providing the ability to produce very complex stampings
and assemblies.
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12.07.2019 Tooling by Design - Slide Forming Processes | MetalForming Magazine
The P r o c e s s
Slide forming processes, similar to
Slide Forming History stamping processes, use production lines
The first slide forming machines were four-slides, built in consisting of payoff equipment for wire or
Connecticut during the late 1800s. By the turn of the century, coiled strip, loop-control device, stock
there were three major manufacturers of four-slide machines straightener and feed system.
within 40 miles of each other.
The feed system feeds wire directly to the
The Baird Co. opened for business in 1846, producing four-slide cutoff and slide forming stations. Coil strip
wire forming machines in Huntington, CT and eventually moving also may be fed into one or more in-line die
to Stratford, CT, in 1912. In the 1960s, it merged with U.S. Tool stations or into a small progressive die for
Corp. to become U.S. Baird Corp. notching, piercing and/or coining before
reaching the cutoff and forming stations.
The A.H. Nilson Machine Co. opened for business in Shelton, CT,
in 1904, developing a complete line of wire-forming machines Slide forming dies experience the same
throughout the early 1900s. In the 1930s, Nilson added a problems associated with progressive dies,
horizontal press to its four-slide machine, expanding its offerings related to feed-line height, stock alignment,
into strip forming. In 1986, U.S. Baird purchased A.H. Nilson feed timing, stock positioning, slug
Machine Co., making Baird the largest producer of slide forming retention, scrap ejection, off-center loading
equipment in the United States at that time. and stock buckling.
The Torin Corp., Torrington, CT, also entered the four-slide field in Unlike progressive stamping dies, slide
the early 1900s. In 1957, a complete line of vertical-forming forming machines are capable of complex
machines was developed and marketed under the trade name forming motions in four or more directions.
Verti-slide. The 1980s were difficult for the company, which In contrast, progressive dies move up and
changed ownership a couple of times, eventually closing in 1990. down only. Complex forming motions
require expensive cams, adding cost and
In 2007, Hayden Manufacturing, Thomaston, CT, acquired certain complexity to the die.
assets, intellectual property and the rights to manufacture various
product lines of U.S. Baird, including replacement parts for U.S. Another benefit of slide forming: four-slide
Baird and Nilson four-slide machines. and multislide machines do not require a
carrying web like progressive dies, resulting
in a reduced number of die stations and
less scrap loss. Likewise, tooling usually is
less expensive due to the simplicity of slide forming tools and the rapid production of parts, depending on the number
of operations per part. Such speed usually results in lower per-part manufacturing costs. MF
Next month: Tooling applications for four-slide and multislide machines.
Related Enterprise Zones: Tool & Die
READER COMMENTS
Posted by: Rick Emenheiser on 4/16/2019 [Link] PM
Thanks for the history. I worked on a Baird 100 ton four slide that my company purchased
used in the mid 1960's. At one point in time during the late 1980's the casting was cracked
due to a severe tooling crash. Baird still had the drawings of that model which was apparently
built sometime in the 1940's. We had a completely new machine built and it's still in service to
this day.
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12.07.2019 Tooling by Design - Slide Forming Processes | MetalForming Magazine
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