Slide Forming Compare and Contrast

"Straight or Standard" Press

Slide-Forming Machine

Strengths

• Simple parts are economical
• Available in a large variety of sizes and tonnages so "deep draws" are possible

• Fast production rates: 60-240 parts/min
• adjusting for material variations is a quick, simple process
• More options for controlling burr direction
• process seldom requires a carrier strip, therefore makes more economical use of material
• Complexities such as
  • Bends > 90°
  • Bends in opposite directions
  • feed accuracy
  • tapping
  are relatively cheap because complexity built into the machine is not duplicated in the job tooling and so is not charged to the customer
• Tooling costs are comparable to press work for simple jobs, lower for complex jobs

Weaknesses

• Larger presses have lower production rates
• adjusting for material variations is a slow and complex process
• Little design control over burr direction
• most parts require a "carrier strip", extra material that is scrapped at the end of the process
• Complexities such as
  • Bends > 90°
  • Bends in opposite directions
  • feed accuracy
  • tapping
  are relatively expensive because the complexity must be built into the job tooling for every job

• generally smaller presses and lower tonnage than straight presses
• therefore slide machines can not do extensive deep draw or stretch form operations

Diagram