Processes used on Springs, Wire Forms & Special Forms
Most springs & wire forms require plating / finish for either a rust preventative or for cosmetic reasons. Some parts might call out for "‘surface improvement" or in the case of stainless springs, may require passivation. Each of the plating options has an industry standard ‘salt spray’ spec as well. All of these specifications are per the customers print. Our plating vendors offer RoHS compliant finishes. Patrick, being located in the Chicagoland area, has long standing relationship with an abundance of these service companies. Listed below are a few of the typical plating and finishing options used on our products. If you don't see what you are looking for, contact us today for more information.
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Finishes |
- Zinc Plate (yellow, clear, green, blue, etc.)
- Black Oxide Specs: MIL-DTL-13924-D (CLASS 1, 2, & 4) and GM 4347M
- Black Oxide & Oil
- Black Oxide & Oil, Spin Dry
- Black Oxide & Wax
- Black Oxide & Teflon Wax
- Black Oxide & Chromatic Dip
- Black Oxide & Iridescent (UV) Wax
- Zinc Phos & Oil Specs: DOD-P-16232F, DOD-DTL-16232G, D550700 (Delphi), ESB-M3P4-A, 5-A, 17-A (FORD), • ESF-M3P6-A, 7-A, 8-A, 9-A (FORD), • F1137-00 (ASTM), • F1137-0C (ASTM), • F1137-0D (ASTM), • GMW3179 (CODES A,B,D,G,H, & W), GM4435M (CODES A, B, D, & E), PS-80 (CHRYSLER), WSS-M3P36 (A1 & A2), 1E1675A
- Zinc-Phosphate & Oil
- Zinc-Phosphate & Oil, Spin Dry
- Zinc-Phosphate & Wax
- Zinc-Phosphate & Chrome Seal Only
- Zinc-Phosphate & Teflon Wax
- Zinc-Phosphate & Heavy Wax
- Zinc-Phosphate Calcium Modified
- Iron Phosphate (special)
- Magnesium Phos & Specs: MIL-DTL-16232G Type M, MIL-STD-171 5.3.1, GM 4277M, PS8890
- Manganese-Phosphate & Oil
- Manganese-Phosphate & Oil, Spin Dry & Spin Dry to Touch
- Manganese-Phosphate & Wax
- Manganese-Phosphate & Chrome Seal
- Manganese-Phosphate & Teflon Wax
- Manganese-Phosphate & Heavy Wax
- E-Coat: The E-coat process is best described as a cross between plating and painting. It is a process where a metal part is immersed in a water-based solution containing a paint emulsion. An electric voltage is applied to the part causing the paint emulsion to condense onto the part.
- Tin Plate: Bright, a shiny metallic look for cosmetic or when a luster is preferred. Matte finishes, are whitish gray color. Tin has a a good level of conductivity and why it is often used in manufacturing electronic components.
- Identification Dips / Color Coding: We have an excellent, environmentally friendly ID product we use on our springs, stampings and wire forms. It is a very economical solution for your ID system requirements. This is purely for identification purposes and not for rust or cosmetic reasons.
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Processes |
- Stress Relieving: We have our own stress relieving ovens and parts can be processed with in-line ovens or walk-in batch ovens. Both batch and in-line heating is used to offer the best solution for your job. Heat treating for Rockwell Hardness is contracted out to our reliable heat treating partner expert in the industry.
- Shot Peening: Shot peening is a cold working process used to produce a compressive residual stress layer and modify mechanical properties of metals. It entails impacting a surface with shot (round metallic, glass, or ceramic particles) with force sufficient to create plastic deformation. It is done to achieve longer life of the spring, sometimes 5 to 10 times longer.
- Passivation of Stainless Springs: Passivation is the removal of exogenous iron or iron compounds from the surface of stainless steel by means of a chemical dissolution, most typically by treatment with an acid solution that will remove the surface contamination, but will not significantly affect the stainless steel itself. The iron or iron compounds that are found on the stainless are from the machining or forming process of the spring or wire. Specs: AMS-QQ-P-35 (Types II, VI, VII, & VIII) and A 967-96 and SPEC #3 (Johnson/Evinrude)
- Passivate & Wax
- Passivate & UV Wax
- Passivate & Burnish
- Passivate to QQ-P-3
- Austempering: Heat treat process of medium to high carbon steel.
- Heat Treating: Annealing, case hardening, carbonitriding, induction, nitriding & vaccuum.
- Deburring: Small burrs, which can be left by the coiling/forming process and/or cut off, are sometimes removed by a process called deburring. It is an additional step and adds cost to the part. It improves the surface of the material besides breaking the sharp edges, which can enhance the life of the part. This can be done both in-house or at an outside vendor.