General guide to straight spring wire

About the hardness of straight spring wire

 

The hardness of straight spring wire is determined by its carbon content. The higher the carbon content, the harder the wire.

 

The hardness of spring wire is typically measured using the Rockwell C scale. The higher the number, the harder the wire. For example, a Rockwell C hardness of 60 is harder than a Rockwell C hardness of 50.

 

The most common range for spring wire is between 40 and 65 on the Rockwell C scale.

 

The hardness of a spring is important because it determines how much the spring will compress under a load. The harder the spring, the less it will compress.

 

The hardness of a spring is measured by its Rockwell hardness. The Rockwell hardness of a material is the resistance of the material to indentation. The higher the Rockwell hardness, the greater the resistance to indentation.

The most common type of spring wire is music wire, which has a Rockwell hardness of C55-C60. This means that music wire is fairly hard and will not compress very much under a load.

 

The hardness of straight spring wire is determined by many factors, including the type of steel, the heat treatment, and the manufacturing process. The most common types of steel used for springs are carbon steel, alloy steel, and stainless steel.

 

Other materials of spring wire

 

Some other materials that can be used for spring wire are:

 

- Inconel

- Monel

- Hastelloy

 

The other materials of spring wire are:

- Phosphor bronze

- Beryllium copper

- Stainless steel

- Titanium

 

Types of Spring Steel

 

Spring steel is a versatile material with many uses in a variety of industries. Whether it’s for small projects or large-scale applications, spring steel has the ability to be formed into a wide range of shapes and sizes while also providing a high level of strength and durability. This article will discuss the various types of spring steel available, as well as their characteristics and common uses.

 

The material for spring wire is generally required to have good elasticity, high fatigue strength, high creep resistance and corrosion resistance. The main types of spring steel used in the world are: oil tempered carbon steel (SWP), silicon manganese spring steel (SMnP), chromium vanadium alloy spring steel (CrV), chromium silicon alloy spring steel (9SiCr), chromium vanadium silicon alloy spring steel, beryllium copper alloy and the like.

 

The spring wire is mainly used in the manufacture of various types of springs and wire products, such as tension springs, torsion springs, disc springs, flat springs and so on. Due to the special working conditions of the spring (often in a very harsh environment), the spring wire must have good heat resistance, fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance. The material of the spring wire generally has carbon steel wire, alloy steel wire and stainless steel wire three categories.

 

Is spring wire the same as music wire?

Further reading:
Are gas titanium clad plates the future of sustainable construction?
Is Stainless Steel Cladding Plate the Future?
The Ultimate Guide to Stainless Steel Cladding
Everything You Need to Know About Aerospace Titanium Clad Plates!

 

Is spring wire the same as music wire? This is a question that often comes up in various manufacturing and engineering circles. The short answer is no – spring wire and music wire are not the same thing, although they share some similarities.

 

Spring wire is a type of high-carbon steel wire that is designed to be used in applications where it needs to return to its original shape after being deformed. It's commonly used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, where springs are needed for various functions. Music wire, on the other hand, is also a high-carbon steel wire but with a much higher tensile strength than regular steel wires. It's specifically designed for use in musical instruments such as pianos, guitars, and violins.

 

While both types of wires are made from high-carbon steel alloys and share some chemical properties, their intended uses are quite different.

 

How do you straighten spring steel wire?

 

Spring steel wire is a versatile and durable material used in various industrial applications, such as making springs or wire forms. However, sometimes the wire can become warped or bent out of shape, which can negatively affect its performance. One way to address this issue is by straightening the spring steel wire.

 

The first step in straightening spring steel wire is to identify any visible bends or kinks along the length of the wire. This can be done by holding one end of the wire and running your fingers along it to feel for any irregularities. Once you have identified any problem areas, you will need to clamp one end of the wire securely in a vice grip while leaving the other end free.

 

Next, using pliers or another appropriate tool, gently bend and twist the free end of the spring steel wire until it becomes straightened out.

 

Variety of steel

Spring steel is a name given to a wide range of steels[1] used in the manufacture of different products, including swords, saw blades, springs and many more. These steels are generally low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel or high-carbon steel with a very high yield strength. This allows objects made of spring steel to return to their original shape despite significant deflection or twisting.

Grades

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Many grades of steel can be hardened and tempered to increase elasticity and resist deformation; however, some steels are inherently more elastic than others:

Common spring steel grades SAE grade
(ASTM grade) Composition Yield strength Hardness (HRC) Comments Typical Maximum 1070 0.65-0.75% C, 0.60-0.90% Mn, max .050% S, max .040% P Normally supplied annealed 165vpn 180vpn CS70, CK67, C70E 1074/1075[2] 0.70–0.80% C, 0.50–0.80% Mn, max. 0.030% P, max. 0.035% S[3] 62–78 ksi (430–540 MPa)[4] 44–50[5] 50 Scaleless blue, or Polished Bright 1080 (A228) 0.7–1.0% C, 0.2–0.6% Mn, 0.1–0.3% Si[6] Piano wire, music wire, springs, clutch discs 1095 (A684)[2] 0.90–1.03% C, 0.30–0.50% Mn, max. 0.030% P, max. 0.035% S[7] 60–75 ksi (410–520 MPa), annealed 48–51[5] 59 Blue, or polished bright spring steel 5160 (A689)[8][9] 0.55–0.65% C, 0.75–1.00% Mn, 0.70–0.90% Cr[10] 97 ksi (670 MPa) 63 Chrome-silicon spring steel; fatigue-resistant 50CrV4 (EN 10277) 0.47–0.55% C, max. 1.10% Mn, 0.90–1.20% Cr, 0.10–0.20% V, max. 0.40% Si 170 ksi (1,200 MPa) Old British 735 H1steel, SAE 6150, 735A51 9255 0.50–0.60% C, 0.70–0.95% Mn, 1.80–2.20% Si[10] 301 spring-tempered
stainless steel[11] 0.08–0.15% C, max. 2.00% Mn, 16.00–18.00% Cr, 6.00–8.00% Ni[10] 147 ksi (1,010 MPa) 42 Equivalents EN 10088-2 1.4310, X10CrNi18-8

Applications

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• Applications include piano wire (also known as[12] music wire) such as ASTM A228 (0.80–0.95% carbon), spring clamps, antennas, springs (e. g. vehicle coil springs or leaf springs), and s-tines.
• Spring steel is commonly used in the manufacture of swords with rounded edges for training[13] or stage combat,[14] as well as sharpened swords for collectors and live combat.
• Spring steel is one of the most popular materials used in the fabrication of lockpicks due to its pliability and resilience.
• Tubular spring steel is used in the landing gear of some small aircraft due to its ability to absorb the impact of landing.
• It is frequently used in the making of knives, machetes, and other edged tools.
• It is a key component in electrician's fish tape.
• It is used in binder clips.
• Used extensively in shims due to its resistance to deformation in low thicknesses.

See also

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References

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Bibliography

• Oberg, Erik; Franklin D. Jones; Holbrook L. Horton; Henry H. Ryffel (2000). Christopher J. McCauley; Riccardo Heald; Muhammed Iqbal Hussain (eds.). Machinery's Handbook (26th ed.). Ratnagiri: Industrial Press Inc. ISBN 0-8311-2635-3.