Formed and Flat Springs

A spring is a device such as a coil or strip of material that stores potential energy when it is compressed, stretched or bent and releases the energy when the restraining force is removed. (Collins Concise Dictionary, 2001)

Strip or flat springs come in many different designs, sizes and materials Beryllium Copper, Phosphor Bronze, Carbon Spring Steel and Stainless Steel and are used in many different industries: electronics, military, automotive, aircraft, space, medical, telecoms and shipping. Complex designs from prototype through to production quantities can be produced economically and on short lead times using the manufacturing processes offered by Photofabrication.

There are many different types of springs used in industry, Photofabrication have been working closely with the spring manufacturing industry for over 35 years to produce a variety of flat and formed springs. Over that period of time they have produced many different designs of strip springs using the chemical milling / photo etching process to produce a blank that can be formed using either our in house universal or customer specific form tools to produce the required formed shape.

We can supply the springs heat treated, plated and assembled giving you a finished spring from one source of supply.  This helps you reduce your logistics time and therefore reduce product lead times.

For prototype and low volume springs the manufacturing technique of choice is Chemical Milling, let us illustrate this in more detail:

Main Benefits of Chemical Milling :

• Low cost tooling
• High accuracy
• Industry leading lead times from concept to finished components
• Customised parts – you design it – we make it! (Guidelines available)
• Complete manufacture, blank, form, heat treatment and plating
• Cost effective prototypes
• Over 35 years experience in the prototype and development of springs for the spring manufacturing industry
• Burr free & Stress free manufacturing method
• Prototypes – fast turnaround to meet your needs
• High volume capabilities
• Various surface finishes available

Photofabrication can manufacture in various materials suitable for contacts, Beryllium Copper, Phosphor Bronze, Carbon Spring Steel, Stainless Steel and many more.

To find out more about the Photo Etching Process please either contact us on 01480 226699, or take “The Process Tour”.