A three-die slug header is a machine used in metalworking and manufacturing processes to produce slugs or blanks from metal wire or coil stock. It is a type of header machine that utilizes three dies in the production process.

Here’s a general overview of how a three-die slug header typically works:

1. Material Preparation: Metal wire or coil stock is fed into the machine. The wire or coil is often made of a specific metal alloy, such as steel or aluminum, depending on the desired application of the resulting slugs.
2. Cutting: The wire or coil stock is fed through a cutting mechanism that precisely cuts it into individual lengths, forming cylindrical pieces known as slugs or blanks. The length of the slugs can be adjusted based on the machine’s settings.
3. Header Station: The slugs are then transferred to the header station. The header station consists of three dies arranged in a specific configuration. The dies are typically made of hardened steel and have specially designed shapes.
4. Forming: The slugs are sequentially passed through the three dies in the header station. Each die performs a specific operation on the slug, such as piercing, shaping, or forming. The dies exert pressure on the slug to shape it into the desired final form.
5. Ejection: Once the slug has passed through all three dies and has been formed, it is ejected from the machine. The formed slugs can be collected in a container or further processed in subsequent manufacturing steps, depending on the specific application.

The use of a three-die configuration allows for more complex shaping and forming operations to be performed on the slugs, compared to machines with fewer dies. This type of machine is commonly used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and general metal fabrication where metal slugs or blanks are required as raw materials for further processing or assembly.