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Core line, represented 25+ years
Fourslide forming
Fourslide forming feeds flat strip or round wire to a center post, then four cam- or servo-driven tool slides strike it from the front, back and both sides to bend it around the post. It makes complex clips, brackets and wire forms with bends in several directions, including full wraps, using tooling that typically costs $5,000–$25,000, often a fraction of a comparable progressive die.
A method under springs, wire forms, and fourslide.
How does fourslide forming work?
The schematic plays while it is on screen. Pick a phase to hold it there.
- 1
Feed and pierce
Coil strip or wire feeds in. An in-line press station can pierce holes or notch the strip before forming.
- 2
Cut off the blank
A cutoff tool shears the blank to length in front of the center post.
- 3
Front slide forms the U
The front slide pushes the blank against the center post, bending it into a U.
- 4
Side slides wrap
The left and right slides close in, wrapping both legs around the sides of the post.
- 5
Rear slide closes
The rear slide folds the ends over the top of the post to finish the shape.
- 6
Strip off
A stripper pushes the finished part off the post, and the next blank is already feeding.
What can fourslide forming hold?
Typical ranges across principals. Your drawing, material and quantity set the real numbers in the quote.
| Strip capacity | Up to about 3 in (76 mm) wide × 0.100 in (2.5 mm) thick |
|---|---|
| Wire capacity | About 0.010–0.188 in (0.25–4.8 mm) diameter |
| Formed tolerance | ±0.005–0.015 in (±0.13–0.38 mm) |
| Speed | 60–300 parts per minute typical |
| Tooling cost | $5,000–$25,000 |
| Tooling lead time | 4–8 weeks |
| Economic volume | 10,000 parts and up |
When is fourslide forming the right call?
Best for
- Clips, retainers, hose clamps, contacts and small brackets
- Parts with bends in several directions or 360° wraps
- Strip up to about 3 in (76 mm) wide and 0.100 in (2.5 mm) thick
- 10,000 to millions of parts, at 60–300 parts per minute
Pick something else when
- Flat parts with holes and few bends: progressive die stamping runs faster
- Large or heavy-gauge parts: press brake forming or stamping
- Low volume wire forms: CNC wire forming needs almost no tooling
How does fourslide forming compare with the alternatives?
Typical values. Pick an alternative to see where each one wins.
Fourslide forming compared with
Fourslide formingProgressive die stamping
- Precisionlooser → tighter
- Volume it pays atone-offs → millions
- Upfront toolingnone → heavy
- Shape freedomnarrow → wide
Fourslide forming · pick it when
Small clips, brackets and wire forms with bends from several directions, including 360° wraps.
Progressive die stamping · pick it when
Flat and formed parts at high annual volume, where a part every stroke pays back the die.
About progressive die stampingMethodTypical toleranceEconomic volumeToolingLead time
- Fourslide formingthis pageTypical tolerance±0.005–0.015 in (±0.13–0.38 mm) on formed featuresEconomic volume10,000 parts and upTooling$5,000–$25,000Lead time4–8 weeks
- Typical tolerance±0.001–0.005 in (±0.025–0.13 mm) pierced; ±0.005–0.010 in across formsEconomic volume25,000 parts a year and upTooling$20,000–$150,000+Lead time8–16 weeks for the die
- Typical tolerance±0.010–0.030 in (±0.25–0.75 mm) on formed legsEconomic volume100–100,000 partsToolingLittle or none; standard bend headsLead time2–4 weeks
- Typical tolerance±1° angle; ±0.010–0.015 in (±0.25–0.38 mm) per bendEconomic volume1–10,000 partsToolingStandard punches and dies; specials $1,000–$10,000Lead time1–3 weeks
Which design rules keep fourslide affordable?
Rules of thumb principals apply at DFM review. Each one has a reason.
RuleTargetWhy
- Inside bend radius
- ≥ 1× thickness
- Tighter radii crack spring tempers, especially across the grain.
- Width to thickness
- ≤ 3 in wide; ≤ 0.100 in thick
- Beyond this the slides and cams run out of force and travel.
- Bend order
- Design for front, sides, then rear
- Shapes that follow the machine's natural forming order need simpler tooling.
- Heat treat
- Form in annealed or spring temper, not both
- Pre-hardened strip holds shape without heat treat but limits bend radii.
- Tolerance
- ±0.010 in (±0.25 mm) on formed legs
- Springback varies coil to coil. Tighter needs sorting or adjustments.
What drives the cost of fourslide?
In order of impact.
- 1
Tooling
Slides, center post and cams. Less than a progressive die of similar complexity because each tool does one simple motion.
- 2
Machine speed
Parts per minute set by forming complexity and part size.
- 3
Material
Spring steels, stainless and beryllium copper cost more than low-carbon steel.
- 4
Heat treat and finish
Hardening, stress relief and plating are usually outside operations.
- 5
Setup
Setup takes hours, so short runs carry it heavily.
Fourslide questions
What is the difference between fourslide and multislide?
Both form parts around a center post with tool slides. Fourslide has four slides driven by cams on four shafts. Multislide and CNC servo slide machines add more slides and programmable motion, which suits more complex parts and faster changeovers.
Why is fourslide tooling cheaper than a progressive die?
Each slide does one simple motion with a simple tool, and the machine does the choreography. A progressive die has to build every operation into one precise die set, with stations, lifters and cams.
Can fourslide parts be heat treated?
Yes. Parts formed from annealed spring steel are hardened and tempered after forming. Parts formed from pre-tempered strip often only need a stress relief.
What volume suits fourslide?
Typically 10,000 parts and up. Tooling is lower than stamping, and machines run 60–300 parts a minute, so unit cost drops quickly with volume.
Quote fourslide forming with a rep.
Send a STEP file and drawing. A rep routes the RFQ to principals that run this method every day, and brings back firm quotes.