Shown for the first time in the world, Lee Spring’s revolutionary LeeP™ plastic composite and Bantam™ Mini compression springs made spring technology history at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition, February 10/11, 2010. Simultaneously, product literature and price codes for the new products were posted on the company’s website.
Described as a breakthrough in spring technology LeeP™ plastic composite compression springs combine the strength of metal with the special attributes of high performance engineered thermoplastics.
Manufactured in different formulations of Ultem* PEI resin, the springs are available in six colour coded strengths: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, the strongest. Standard sizes and custom design options are available to meet performance requirements.
Plastic composite springs have many performance differentials with metal springs including high strength to weight ratios, mechanical and thermal stability at temperatures up to 170oC (340°F) and excellent corrosion resistance. Additionally they are non-magnetic, offer dielectric insulation, low flammability and are recyclable.
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.
Developed to meet the challenge of miniaturisation Bantam™ Mini compression springs are designed to combine strength with corrosion resistance. The smallest size 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).
Manufactured in non-magnetic, high strength Elgiloy®, a cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy, the springs have superior corrosion resistance and can be used at temperatures up to 454°C (850°F).
Application areas 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.
*Trademark of SABIC Innovative Plastics IP BV.
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