The article "How to Design Tools for Slide Forming" that appeared in the May 2000 issue of Metal Forming encouraged me to create this piece.While the referenced article contains much useful information regarding slideforming, since the publication of the original U.S. Baird Slide Forming Manual (the source of the article), the use of slideforming equipment for the production of formed stampings and assemblies has evolved considerably.Many parts are being produced using materials other than soft, untempered types. The obvious limiting factor in their use is the ability to form or bend the strip to the required configuration without causing fractures or breakage of the raw material. The advantage of producing parts using prehardened material is the ability to furnish a complete part directly off of the machine. The elimination of heat-treating or additional bending operations and the handling associated with these operations ensures a more uniform product. Any additional costs necessary to fabricate complicated tooling required to produce these parts usually is justified.
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