Spring steel springs

1. Spring steel springs A spring is a device that changes its shape in response to an external force, returning to its original shape when the force is removed.

2. Uses of Spring steel springs Vehicles: Vehicle suspension Watches: Balance springs in mechanical timepieces and spring-loaded bars for attaching the bands and the clasps. Lock  mechanisms: Key-recognition and for coordinating the movements of various parts of the lock. Pop-open devices:  CDplayers , Tape recorders etc. Pens Spring mattresses Jewelry: Clasp mechanisms . Slinky Trampoline Pogo Stick

3. Properties Low alloy, medium or carbon steel Manufactured to very high yield strengths Ability to resist deformation, return to shape Nickel key component Ability to absorb shock Resistance to snapping/shattering Pliability

4. Coiling Cold winding. Wire up to 0.75 in (18 mm) at room temperature using one of two basic techniques. One consists of winding the wire around a shaft called an arbor or mandrel. This may be done on a dedicated spring-winding machine, a lathe, an electric hand drill with the mandrel secured in the chuck, or a winding machine operated by hand cranking. A guiding mechanism, such as the lead screw on a lathe, must be used to align the wire into the desired pitch (distance between successive coils) as it wraps around the mandrel. Alternatively, the wire may be coiled without a mandrel. This is generally done with a central navigation computer (CNC) machine .

5. Spring steel and Tempering http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CnwUQZ6q78

6. To be kept in mind When tempering, hardness need to be kept along the edge and bevel, soft along spine , tensile strength on middle, soft on knife. Gas blow torch – BLUE colour. Can be fooled by the first blue that comes around 580 degrees, the blue after straw colour. Not good because stays brittle. Need darker blue evenly across the steel.

7. Cold Rolling Cold rolling occurs with the metal below its recrystallization temperature (usually at room temperature), which increases the strength via  strain hardening up to 20%. It also improves the surface finish and holds tighter tolerances . Optimum between ambient temperature and 3 times melting point of metal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9tdJ4-MQNE

8. Stainless 1.4310 spring steel G rade 1.4310 can be supplied with a tensile strength of up to 1800 MPa in strip and wire forms, to produce tempers in the range of 1/16 Hard to Full Hard. The controlled analysis enables it to retain sufficient ductility in conditions up to ½ Hard conditions to be roll or brake formed into components. In simple design forms ¾ to Full Hard tempers should be used. Applications : Automotive wheel covers and wiper blade holders and clips Toaster springs and stove element clips Screen frames and curtain walls Highway trailer components

9. Alternate products Piano wire Spring clamps Antennas Metal swords Knives Fabrication of lockpicks Smaller aircrafts landing gear