Making torsion springs using hand forming methods
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to cold form wire torsion springs, using hand forming methods and techniques, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate equipment to use, based on the forming operations required, the material to be formed and the accuracy to be achieved, and this will include such items as coiling mandrels, hand coiling machine, coiling tools, shearing tools and fly presses. The wire torsion and tension springs to be produced will include right and left-handed helix, single and double torsion springs and other specific wire forms.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the spring forming activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the tools and equipment, materials or activities that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you produce.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying hand forming procedures to torsion springs. You will understand the cold forming processes, the equipment used and its application, and will know about the materials and forming techniques in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities, correcting faults and producing springs to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when working with the hand forming machines, and with their associated tools and equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand your responsibility for taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- follow the correct component drawing and any other related specifications for the component to be produced
- determine what has to be done and how this will be achieved
- use the appropriate tools and equipment for the pressure shaping operations and check that they are in a safe and usable condition
- shape the materials to the required specification using appropriate methods and techniques
- check that all the required shaping operations have been completed to the required standard
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- the personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE) to be worn when carrying out the spring making activities
- the hazards associated with carrying out torsion spring hand forming operations (such as handling spring wire, using hand coiling machines and equipment, using dangerous or badly maintained tools and equipment), and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
- terminology used in the manufacture of the torsion springs
- the principles of operation of torsion springs
- how to obtain the necessary drawings, specifications and work instructions
- explain the interpretation of the drawings in first or third angle projection to relevant standard
- hand tools used in the torsion and tension spring forming activities, and how to check that they are in a safe and usable condition
- the various hand and power operated coiling machines that can be used to produce a range of open and closed end springs
- the various types of coiling/forming tool that are used, how they are selected, prepared and mounted to the machine
- how to set up the hand coiling machine and tooling to produce the required helix, pitch, number of coils and arm extension required
- the techniques used to feed the wire into the hand coiling machine in order to produce the spring to the required specification
- ways of avoiding and correcting inaccuracies in the coil forming activities
- how the spring wire materials are to be prepared for the coiling operations, and why some materials may require a heating process prior to forming
- the characteristics of the various materials used with regard to the coiling and forming process
- the variations in manufacturing methods and spring characteristics that will occur with different ferrous and non-ferrous metals
- the use of fly presses and tooling for forming bends and loops in the spring ends/legs and for coil setting
- how to check that the tools and equipment used are in a safe and serviceable condition, and their care and maintenance procedures
- organisational quality control procedures, and recognition of coil forming defects
- dimensional and coil forming inspection checks to be carried out, and the tools and equipment to be used for this
- limitations of the various coil forming processes, and the accuracy that may realistically be achieved
- the importance of completing all relevant documentation on conclusion of the spring making activities
- the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
- Ensure that the tools and equipment to be used are appropriate to the application and are in a safe and usable condition, by carrying out all of the following checks:
- obtain and interpret correctly the documentation for the type of spring being made
- adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
- check that the tools and spring forming equipment to be used are in a safe and usable condition
- carry out the hand forming activities, following good practice/approved procedures
- return all tools and equipment to the correct location on completion of the spring making activities
- leave the work area in a clean and safe condition on completion of the activities
- Produce torsion springs from two different materials from the following:
- carbon steel
- alloy steel
- nickel based alloys
- stainless steel
- copper based alloy
- titanium and other special material
- other specific material
- Form three of the following types of wire torsion springs:
- right-hand helix
- single torsion
- left-hand helix
- double torsion
- other specific torsion springs
- Finish torsion spring ends, to include producing three of the following:
- short hook ends
- hinge ends
- straight offset
- straight torsion
- special ends
- Use all of the following types of spring forming equipment:
- coiling machine (hand or power operated)
- spring measuring/checking equipment
- coiling mandrels
- fly press
- hand tools
- jigs/fixtures
- Produce wire torsion springs, to include carrying out all of the following:
- selecting the correct type and size of wire
- ensuring that any required wire pre-treatment activities have been carried out (where appropriate)
- selecting the correct type and size of coiling mandrel, and securing it in the machine chuck
- setting the coiling rest to give the correct helix
- selecting the correct angle plate to obtain pitch and free length
- setting the coiling machine controls (such as wire guides, cams, upper and lower stops, cropping tool)
- setting up the correct coil start and finishing points
- using the appropriate techniques to form the springs to the required specification
- checking the re-coil amount after coiling and adjusting, as required (where appropriate)
- carrying out post coiling operations (such as forming bends or loops in ends/legs, pre-setting, coil setting and checking)
- preparing the springs for heat treatment (such as stress relieving, hardening and tempering)
- Use four of the following whilst checking the quality of the springs produced:
- vernier callipers
- vernier protractors
- gauges
- micrometers
- squares
- jigs
- spring testing machines
- electronic measuring equipment
- Carry out checks of wire torsion springs, to include all of the following:
- size of wire and material specification
- dimensional accuracy of the overall length
- dimensional accuracy of the outside diameter
- dimensional accuracy of the inside diameter
- the number of coils is as specified
- the spring is wound with the correct hand helix
- spring ends/legs are of the correct length, angle and shape
- spring torsion meets specification requirements
- completed springs are free from tooling marks and deformation
- Produce wire torsion springs which comply with one of the following:
- BS, ISO or BSEN standards and procedures
- customer standards and job requirements
- company standards and procedures