Wire Form Parts
Wire is a single, flexible, cylindrical rod or strand of metal created via the metalworking process known as drawing. Able to be made in a variety of materials and thicknesses, wire is highly useful and used to create countless parts and products. Such parts and products, which are produced through one or more wire forming processes, are known collectively as wire form parts. Some of the most common and versatile wire form parts include wire baskets, wire shelves, wire grids and wire guards. Wire form parts like these are utilized daily in the retail and commercial industries, where they house and display purchasable goods and items. Wire form parts are also created for and used in other industries, such as healthcare and surgery, electronics, sporting goods, household appliance and automotive and aerospace.
Before wire form parts can be made, wire must be made. As noted in the first paragraph, this is does via the metalworking process known as drawing. Usually metal drawing is performed at room temperature, and it is thus generally classified as a cold-working process. However, when manufacturers are drawing large wires and attempting to reduce their forces, they will perform the process at a higher temperature. In this scenario, drawing becomes a hot-working process. The process of drawing begins with the collection of raw metal stock. Once the metal stock has been satisfactorily gathered, it is fed into a series of ever-shrinking dies or draw plates, which are designed to turn convert the stock into a flexible wire. Usually, the dies used during drawing are fabricated from diamond, manufactured diamond, tungsten carbide or tool steel. Out of the four, manufactured diamond and tungsten steel are most frequently used for the task of die-making. The exception to this is during hot drawing, during which manufacturers use cast steel dies. Note that while drawing is quite similar to extrusion, the two processes are not the same. Primarily, they differ in that drawing works by pulling material through the die while extrusion works by pushing material through the die.
Wire form parts may be created using a number of different primary and secondary processes. Some of the most common primary processes used in wire forming include metal stamping, deep drawing, fourslide forming, roll forming, coil making and welding. Metal stamping is a process that shapes blank or coiled flat metal sheet by setting it onto a press bed, to be pressed upon by a die. The die is pushed down and held in place by a ram; together, these components make up the stamping press. The processes deep drawing and fourslide forming are offshoots of metal stamping. Deep drawing creates parts with greater depths than diameters by radially drawing metal sheet into the forming die. Fourslide wire forming is a more complex process, and allows for a high volume of small parts production. It utilizes a stamping press with four horizontal forming slides, allowing for multiple forming actions to take place at once. In this way, a part can receive manipulation from four different sides, and/or the press can perform multiple forming stages simultaneously. In contrast, roll forming is a very simple process. In it, sheet metal is fed through a series of mounted rollers, calendars and die punches, where it is bent and gradually coaxed into its intended shaped. Coil making is another straightforward process. In it, in order to make springs, manufacturers wind wire around metal blanks or mandrels of varying sizes. Finally, welding works by joining metal through fusion, induced by pressure or heat. Two types of welding are common in wire forming: MIG and TIG welding. MIG welding is the more user-friendly and efficient of the two, while TIG welding, though it yields highly accurate parts, is time-consuming, complex and requires the hand of a highly skilled operator. Secondary operations that manufacturers offer include: powder coating, nickel plating, plastic coating, painting, heat treating and anodizing.
Wire manufacturers are ready and able to take on your application. They offer both standard and custom wire forms in many shapes, sizes and ferrous and nonferrous materials. Common materials they use include: steel, stainless steel, copper, bronze, brass, aluminum and various alloys. Sometimes, plastic wire can be manufactured as well. From forks and spoons to surgical hook, wire form parts have endless potential. Explore the possibilities with a visionary manufacturer today.
More Wire Form Parts
|
|
|
|
|
Wire Form Parts and Products – Madsen Wire Products
|
Wire Form Parts and Products – Acme Wire Products Company, Incorporated
|
Wire Form Parts and Products – Madsen Wire Product
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wire Form Parts and Products – Acme Wire Products
|
Wire Form Parts and Products – Acme Wire Products
|
Wire Form Parts and Products – Acme Wire Products
|
Wire Form Parts Informational Video