Today's spring manufacturer needs to understand the applications of his products so that design assistance can be provided for the development of prototypes. Product lines should include custom compression springs, extension springs, torsion springs, and wire and metal forms.

Compression and extension springs come in diameters from 0.015" to 0.500". The compression springs can have from 0.5 to 20 coils/in. Materials used to manufacture springs include:

• nonferrous alloy strip
• stainless strip
• cold rolled carbon steel strip
• nonferrous alloy wire
• stainless steel wire
• alloy steel wire
• high carbon spring wire

Metal treatments such as heat treating, tumbling and shot peening along with other processing treatments all improve the life of springs.

Coatings are an example of treatments that make springs withstand corrosion and abrasion. Electrodeposition coating for corrosion resistance is available in black. Electroplated coatings are offered in clear, yellow, black and various other colors. Passivation cleans stainless steel and improves tarnish resistance. Other coatings available are nickel/tin, chrome, anodizing, cadmium plating, and black oxide, both painted and powder.

Compression spring ends can be:

• open or plain
• coiled left-hand or right-hand
• squared or closed ends
• square and closed with 2-1/2 coil turns
• squared and ground
• two pig tail ends square with axis

Extension spring ends as well as torsion spring ends are offered in standard and special designs.

CNC coilers, a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system with drawings and files, and a Just In Time (JIT) delivery system complement a company's Statistical Process Control (SPC) program and documentation policy.