Stainless Steel Springs

How Stainless Steel Springs are Made

Mechanical spring equipment receives the spring wire first. Then, to restore the wire to its default straight path, this semi-automatic machine straightens it out of the coil it was originally in. The spring wire is then formed, coiled, or bent into the desired shape by the machine. More information on these procedures is provided below:

Coiling: A spring coiler or computer numerical control (CNC) spring coiler equipment is used for coiling. The machine's operator feeds the wire into a set of rollers, which pull the spring wire in the direction of a set of guides after setting up the machine for the particular type of coil being created. The wire is ultimately guided to a coiling point, or series of coiling points, where it is coiled backward to create a spring. Compression, extension, and torsion springs are created using this mechanism.

Forming: A spring former or a CNC spring former is used for this. Six to eight tooling slides are on the front of this kind of machine, allowing it to accomplish a variety of bends, hoops, and radii in addition to spring coils. This procedure can thus produce a variety of spring forms. Extension springs, torsion springs, wire forms, and occasionally compression springs are all made using spring formers.

Bending: A CNC wire bender, a mechanical wire-bending device controlled by a computer, is used for wire bending. The wire is fed through the machine's rollers, which drag it to wire guides and push it to a movable tooling head that is computer-controlled. There are many bends and shapes that the tooling head may make. Creating wire forms is the main use of the wire bender.

Additional Procedures

Once a spring is created, it must undergo a stress-relieving procedure to keep its memory. When under stress, the spring can recover because of this memory. Manufacturers must heat treat produced springs to achieve this. The spring must be heat treated by the spring manufacturer at a certain temperature for a predetermined time. Different temperature and time settings apply depending on the kind and quantity of wire used. The spring might undergo additional heat-treating procedures, including quenching or cooling, before undergoing another round.

Again, the specific procedure is based on the kind of material and production method used. A conveyor belt oven is used with heat treatment in most contemporary spring production procedures. A spring removed from a spring machine slides onto a conveyor belt, which transports it to the mouth of an oven. The spring then goes around the oven's conveyor belt at a speed that enables it to remain there for the required time. Finally, the spring is transferred to a receiving box to cool after removing it from the oven.

Compression and coil springs may be ground if the design specifies it. The spring's ends are flattened during the grinding process so they can be positioned vertically and stand up straight without swaying. A spring grinder is used for spring grinding. This machine uses two horizontal grinding wheels, separated from one another so that the spring's length can pass between them.

The spring is held and carefully moved between the two grinding wheels by a different component called the spring dish. The spring's ends are ground down as the plate travels by touching the grinding wheels, resulting in end surfaces parallel to the spring's sides. The spring dish then discharges the spring into a receiving box.

A coating, plating, or finishing procedure frequently gives springs a final polish. Then, the spring's surface goes through additional finishing operations to prevent erosion, give the spring new qualities, or enhance the spring's overall beauty.

Types of Stainless Steel Springs

Extension Springs: A type of coiled spring with touching coils is known as an extension spring. These coils separate as force is used to stretch the spring, yet the spring provides a return force in opposition to the force stretching the spring. Although a wire-forming machine may also be used to create extension springs, especially if it has a loop-end design, this is less common. Extension springs can also have the end ground down as an alternative.

Compression Springs: Compared to extension springs, which have coils in contact when at rest, compression springs have coils that are apart when at rest and press together when pressure is applied. These kinds of springs resist an applied force by pushing back. A spring coiling machine is primarily used in the compression spring production process, though spring forming may also be utilized occasionally.

Torsion Springs: A torsion spring has two ends that extend from a coil and is a special type of spring. The coil twists into a tighter spiral and pulls back against the applied force when force is applied to the ends. The springs found in utility trailers and vehicle doors are typical examples. Torsion spring production typically uses coiling or shaping machinery like extension springs.

Choosing the Correct Stainless Steel Springs Company

To make sure you have the most beneficial outcome when purchasing stainless steel springs from a stainless steel spring manufacturer, it is important to compare at least 5 companies using our stainless steel spring directory. Each stainless steel spring manufacturer has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the manufacturer for more information or request a quote. Review each stainless steel spring company website using our patented website previewer to get an idea of what each company specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple stainless steel spring companies with the same form.