Four Slide Stamping: Process, Benefits, and Products

fourslide stamping
Stamping is a sheet metal forming method that uses a die and a punch press to shape metal sheets into complex shapes. It is popular for high volume production across different sectors. Moreover, it has several specialized processes with unique production capabilities; one of them is four slide stamping.

This process is popular for shaping the long metal strips into flat & bent profiles, curved items, channel sections, multi-flange parts, coils & helical geometries, springs, and interlocking profiles.

Continue reading, this article will further cover how four slide stamping works, material options, benefits, and examples of four slide products.

What is Fourslide Stamping?

What makes four slide stamping different from regular stamping is the motion of the punch. Instead of vertical punches to form a specific bend, it involves forming work material at angles with four slides, which move in a lateral direction.

You can consider this a subtype of multi-slide sheet metal stamping services, https://proleantech.com/stamping/ except that the forming sides are limited to four. Consequently, it is simpler to control and offers higher efficiency and cost benefit.

This method can produce complex parts at high speed, typically with a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 10 mm, including wire forms, springs, brackets, spring clips, and other various custom parts with several curves and twists.

How Does Fourslide Metal Stamping Work?

As the name suggests, it involves four ramps (punches) at four directions, aligned at right angles to each other. The slides strike the worksheet from four orthogonal sides, whereas machining continuously feeds the metal strips through the centre. A central forming tool (or mandrel) supports the metal strip for bending.

Typically, bevel gears are used to form the stable connection between the four sides of ramps; they are further synchronized by the cam systems attached to each corresponding shaft.

Let's look at the three individual steps of how fourslide stamping works Metal strip feeding, Progressive bending and Shear cutting and ejection.

Metal Strip Feeding

It involves uncoiling the raw metal strip and feeding it through the centre of the sliding mechanism with correct positioning in the forming section. Meanwhile, four slides must be positioned and aligned correctly.

Progressive Bending

As the strip moves ahead, four slides attached with a forming tool strike the sheet in a sequence. The typical cycle time ranges from 0.1 to 2 seconds. It is the step where the raw strip takes the shape.

Shear Cutting and Ejection

Once the strip is formed into the desired shape, one or more slides cut the finished part and eject it from the work area. In some cases, slides do not need to cut the part; the cut can occur as part of the sliding operations.

Which Materials Can I Use in Multi Slide Stamping?

As mentioned above, multislide stamping can also contain more than four adjustable sides, offering higher complexity and the ability to handle large parts. You can use aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and other ductile materials strips in mutilide (or fourslide) stamping.

Let's briefly elaborate on the different types of material stamping:

Aluminum Multislide Stamping

Aluminium is a relatively soft and ductile metal, so it is easily formable into complex parts. Additionally, aluminum is a good choice for high-strength-to-weight requirements. Subsequently, the most suitable grades are 1100, 3003, and 5052.

Copper Multislide Stamping

Copper and its alloys are known for their use in stamping parts that require thermal and electrical conductivity. During stamping, they may require pre-heating to enhance ductility. Meanwhile, you can choose a suitable strip of C110, C101, C102, or EC grades.

Steel Multi Slide Stamping

Low-carbon, high-carbon, and stainless steel are all compatible with the mutislide stamping. Subsequently, high-carbon grades are popular for fourslide spring and stamping. They are also known as "spring steels" and can be used to manufacture coils, flat springs, clips, and other similar components.

Other Materials

Besides copper, aluminum, and steel, there are other options available as well. You can also use metal strips made of titanium, brass, nickel alloys, and other metals.

Applications of Four Slide Products Across Industries

Industries such as automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, and architecture use four slide products. It is cost-effective when produced in large volumes, making it beneficial for such industries. The variety of parts/products ranges from a simple mounting bracket to intricate circuit breakers and fourslide springs.

Benefits of Four Slide Stamping

Four slide metal stamping can perform multiple operations, including bending, cutting, notching, and forming. These capabilities provide a greater design flexibility to engineers. Additionally, it is also faster and cost-effective than standard press stamping.

● Parts Complexity: This fabrication method enables the production of complex parts with high levels of detail. It can make multiple bends, twists, and even intricate curvatures.

● Material Options: You can use metal strips made of aluminum, copper, steel, iron, nickel, titanium, and other metals.

● Cost-Benefit Analysis: Due to its low tooling costs and higher production efficiency, four-slide stamping is less expensive than other metalworking processes.

● Higher Production Speed: As multiple ramps work simultaneously to form and shear the worksheet, it offers a high production speed of up to 15,000 parts per hour.

● Design Flexibility: The designer has more flexibility in terms of sizes and features, allowing parts to be customized for unique needs.

Summing Up

Overall, four slide stamping is a fast and versatile metal forming process that can shape sheet strips of various metals, such as aluminum alloys, steel alloys, copper, and brass, into desired parts. Additionally, it is cost-effective for large volume production of flat springs, wire forms, brackets, and other custom items.

You must use advanced stamping setups and perform each operation carefully. For this, you need experienced manufacturers like ProleanTech, https://proleantech.com/ which provides comprehensive stamping services, from tooling to surface finishing.

This release was published on openPR.