A new suite of compression springs produced in a plastic composite by Lee Spring mark a breakthrough in spring technology. Called LeeP™ the springs have been developed in response to customer requests for springs that combine the strength of metal with the special attributes of high performance engineered thermoplastics.
Manufactured in Ultem* PEI resin, different formulations will be used to meet or exceed performance criteria. PEI (polyetherimide) was chosen following years of engineering design and materials research by the company’s technical team in the USA. Ultem resin is produced by SABIC Innovative Plastics, a leader in engineered thermoplastic material solutions.
LeeP plastic composite springs will be available in a variety of standard sizes and six colour coded strengths: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, the strongest. Custom design options to meet precise performance requirements will also be offered.
Plastic composite springs offer many advantages including stability of physical and mechanical properties up to 170oC (340oF), high strength to weight ratios and excellent corrosion resistance. Additionally they are non-magnetic, offer dielectric insulation, low flammability and are recyclable as well as RoHS and REACH compliant.
Applications are expected in medical products and apparatus, imaging and X-ray equipment, food processing and packaging machinery as well as in the aerospace, marine, electronics, electrical, water purification, chemical, automotive, semi-conductor, instrumentation and communications sectors.
Size really does matter today. As components get smaller so do the size requirements for springs. Lee Spring has responded to the challenge of miniaturisation by introducing Bantam™ Mini compression springs and will soon announce the availability of smaller sized products within its stock spring range.
Designed to combine strength with corrosion resistance, the smallest Bantam Mini spring features a wire diameter size of 0.102mm (0 .004ins), just slightly thicker than a human hair, and the range extends up to 0.140mm (0 .0055ins) in standard outside diameters of 0.635mm (0.025ins), 1.016mm (0 .040ins) and 1.448mm (0.057ins).
To meet the performance needs of a potentially diverse range of applications the springs are manufactured in Elgiloy® a cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy known for its high strength. It is 10% stronger than Type 316 stainless steel and exhibits superior corrosion resistance. Elgiloy® also performs well in temperatures up to 454°C (850°F) and is non-magnetic.
Applications areas envisaged include medical devices and pharmaceutical delivery products plus petrochemical processes, aerospace and marine industries. Custom designs will be offered in Elgiloy° as well as other alloys.
Lee Spring is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of stock and custom mechanical wire springs, servicing diverse manufacturing markets in the United States and throughout the world. The company has eight locations in the United States, the UK, Mexico, and China.
*Trademark of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP BV.
LeeP plastic composite compression springs from Lee Spring offer unique performance advantages
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