Spring is Sprung

Item under Scribe a line in Autumn 2016 of Model Engineers Workshop showing a method of winding springs on a lathe using various sizes of screws as a pattern,

A few years ago, prior to acquiring a lathe of my own, I had a need to get some small springs made. having found a shop that made springs to order I was invited inside where the operator asked a few questions regarding the size and use of the springs. I had a sample of a broken spring

As the springs were required to operate in water he selected a coil of Stainless steel piano wire of the desired dia., and selected a plain steel mandrel to provide the I.D. of the spring. Setting the mandrel up in his lathe he then selected the spring pitch on the lathe gearbox.

Fitting the end of the wire into a slot at the chuck end the end of the mandrel he wound a couple of turns onto the mandrel by hand. Next he fitted a piece of hardwood to the tool post and wound it into press the wire firmly against the mandrel. The mandrel was supported at the tailstock end by a live center.

Running the lathe at fairly slow speed he produced a length of spring that he then cut into the desired lengths that I required. It was quick and simple. This method eliminates the need to find a screw thread of the right size as almost any pitch can be set on teh leadscrew.

The piece of hardwood was about the width of two turns of the spring and appeared to give the desired tension and wound a very even spring.

Edited By Bob Gitsham on 15/12/2016 14:05:11