EoW November 2008

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EuroWire – November 2008 57
Springs & spring making
Spring Tooling
For almost 35 years, Spring Tooling has manufactured precision tooling in high speed
steel and tungsten carbide for use on spring and wire forming machinery.
Over the last two years the company has invested in three further CNC form grinding
machines and a micro grooving machine, capable of producing wire grooves in steel
and carbide down to 25 microns (0.025mm).
Spring Tooling supplies a diverse range of customers, specialising in precision springs
and wire shapes for almost every industrial sector from micro springs for the electronic
and medical industries, precision valve springs for vehicle engines and the aerosol can
industry, to manufacturers of fencing and mattresses.
Several leading spring and wire forming machinery manufacturers have worked with
Spring Tooling for prototype tooling and bespoke tooling for customers around the
world. Spring Tooling has customers in over 50 countries.
Spring Tooling works to ISO 9001:2000.
Spring Tooling Ltd – UK Fax: +44 1527 876412
Email: Website:
New spring
grinding machine
Kamatech has a new solution for
spring grinding. The new machine,
G66TH1A, can grind springs of up to
6mm diameter wire in only one pass.
G66TH1A has two working heads
with a central loading unit. With this
arrangement it is possible to grind,
press and then grind for finish.
Vertical spring end grinders have
vertically installed grinding spindles.
Springs can be loaded manually or
automatically. Kamatech will design
and build entire lines for spring
production, including coiling, grinding,
press and heat treatments. Lines can
be automated, including loading,
to suit the needs of the user and are
easily managed via an industrial PC
using a graphic display.
Kamatech Srl – Italy
Fax: +39 0342 691043
Email:
Website:
For catheter, medical device and other manufacturers who
require continuous flat wire coils for casings and other
applications, Kinefac Corporation has developed a new 3-point
high speed precision deflection coiling process and the related
wire and coil handling which greatly simplify the tooling, setup
and operation of its Micro-Coilers.
On this unique new flat wire Micro-Coiler system both the
radial and vertical tool elements are full CNC controlled along
with the wire feed and, where necessary, pitch. The new system
includes an extended coil support unit capable of handling
coils up to 96" long, and an integrated wire de-reeling unit.
The overall coil length is controlled by an adjustable sensor in
the output trough and the coils are cut off by a pneumatically
actuated shear.
With this 3-point tooling system continuous flat wire coil
can be produced at up to 3"/second. Diameter tolerances of
± 0.0002" are not uncommon. Coils with variable diameters
can be automatically produced. In addition, by using 2-point
coiling tooling a full
range of round wire
and open pitch flat
wire coils can be
produced.
The flat wire Micro-
Coiler can coil wire
0.001" x 0.0025" to
0.004" x 0.012" into
continuous coils with
an index from 3.5 to
12.0.The coiling points
are now surfaced with a diamond structure which decreases the
coiling friction and enables the user to form coils from some types
of coated wire.
Kinefac Corporation – USA
Email:
Website :
Split rings are springs
The only real split ring is a double coil of wire with a crank – so that it lies flat – and with
an angle cut at each end to nest against the crank. A typical application for these rings
is to hold keys. In reality, this simple piece of wire is made to exacting standards to give
trouble free operation; for a split ring to be effective it must have reliable and consistent
spring.
Berkeley & Co’s manufacturing process calls for spring steel wire, formed to shape
on special purpose machines. The heat treatment process ensures the correct and
consistent spring and polishing and electro plating brings out the final product.
Sizes range from 6mm to 76mm diameter. While the most identifiable use is as a key
ring there are many other applications that vary according to the size and strength
of the joining requirement. These can range from fishing tackle to chain assemblies.
However, whatever the purpose, the need is for a reliable spring, and Berkeley has over
100 years of experience in achieving reliable springs for every application.
Berkeley & Co Ltd – UK Fax: +44 1952 290094
Email: Website :
High speed flat wire coiling
The flat wire Micro-Coiler ▲ ▲
Kamatech’s G66TH1A with two working heads ▲ ▲
and central loading unit