×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Material for Metal Spring
4

Material for Metal Spring

Material for Metal Spring

(OP)
Dear all,

I have been following many of the forums in here, however wasn't able to find the right answer to my specific question.

I am currently working on repairing a mechanical device whereby I have difficulties in finding the right material for a metal spring (L-Shaped) which needs be strong enough (46-50 hrc) without being too brittle (needs to be able to withstand slight squeezing pressure). The part itself is only 0.3mm thick, which adds to the problem.

I am actually thinking of using an AISI 1045 or 1065 and tempering/heat treating it. I was also informed that Mn65 does not seem to be applicable for heat treatment.

Highly appreciate your ideas & help on this matter!

Max

RE: Material for Metal Spring

1045 might have too little carbon depending on your requirements.  1050, 1065, 1074, 1095 all are common spring steels.  Did you try googling "spring steel"?  The thickness should not be a problem.

----------------------------------------

The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in this version of Windows.
 

RE: Material for Metal Spring

I agree with dgallup, but would probably start with 1065 and not 1050/1055.  We routinely use spring steel in that thickness and hardness range, most of it with the 1074 composition.  1095 is usually more in the 50-56 HRC range.

RE: Material for Metal Spring

(OP)
Thank you for your initial feedbacks.

In fact, I also started with a 1065 however encountered problems with a distortion of my parts during the hardening/heat treatment, quenching and tempering process which eventually got me thinking about the material and thickness I am using.

Based on information received the parts were hardened at 1475 - 1550°F, oil quenched, then tempered at 650°F for 2 hrs, then oil quenched. After reading many forums about this matter I figured that there are many ways to approach this. However, I still don't seem to find the right one for my use which could also be because I might use the wrong time cycles.

Highly appreciate your further ideas & help!

Max

RE: Material for Metal Spring

Try austempering, it should lower distortion.

----------------------------------------

The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format, which depends on a feature that isn't included in this version of Windows.
 

RE: Material for Metal Spring

If your part is perfectly flat (which you imply), I would try tempering with the part(s) clamped between plates or otherwise held flat, perhaps with weights on a flat plate. Austenitize, oil quench, quick temper at 400F unclamped, then final temper at 650F with the parts clamped/weighted.

RE: Material for Metal Spring

Both options suggested by dgallup and swall are good.  Another would be to purchase pre-tempered spring steel and just cut/press/form the shape.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources