Environment Risk

Environmental Risk Management

Creating environmentally friendly products

The company enforces strict management of its three-pronged rule of “not including, not using and not discarding” substances that are harmful to the environment, and is engaged in the promotion of environmental quality alongside product quality.

Changeover to washing liquid with less environmental impact

Washing unit utilizing hydrocarbon-based product

Aimed at environmental risk management, our factories have been involved in preventing contamination from and reducing the use of trichloroethylene to wash products and die. Advanex is pleased to report that a switch from trichloroethylene to a hydrocarbon-based washing liquid has now been completed.

Green partners

Supplier briefings

Advanex holds various briefing sessions with its business partners as it is very important that we know how they also manage environmentally harmful substances to observe the regulation.

Supplier alliances

In order to prevent prohibited substances found in treatment surfaces being used, the company also focuses its attention on plated products. Advanex inspects the plants of surface treatment companies before listing them on our company register.

Emergency procedures

Emergency training

Corporate activities deployed by the Advanex Group are not oblivious to the risk of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

Emergency trainin

All employees participate in emergency training once a year so as to prevent and lessen the impact of a crisis situation. Training involves the prompt extinguishing of fires, evacuation, reporting to the local neighborhood and reporting to administrative authorities.

Entire Group engaged in the environment

The Advanex Group was quick to introduce ISO-14001 and continues to actively implement these standards.

ISO-14001 acquisition situation of ADVANEX Group

Japan Acquisition date Certifying Institution
ADVANEX Niigata Factory 2000年10月 DNV
Overseas Acquisition date Certifying Institution
 Advanex (Thailand) Ltd. June, 2006 SGS
 Advanex (Dalian) Inc. January, 2005 TUV
 Advanex (Dongguan) Inc. February, 2005 DNV
 Advanex (Shanghai) Inc. May, 2005 SGS
 Advanex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. July, 2005 SGS
 Advanex Europe Ltd. March, 2008 BSI
 Advanex Americas, Inc. July, 2006 Interrek
 Advanex (Vietnam) Ltd. April, 2012 SGS
 Advanex (Changzhou) Inc. May, 2014 SGS
 PT. Advanex Precision Indonesia November, 2014 JAS-ANS

spring calculation Q&A

spring calculation Q&A

Wire spring

– Common

How do I select materials?

Three types of materials can be selected by WEB Spring Calculation Programme: Stainless Steel, Steel and Copper.
The material characteristics of each are as follows.

  • Stainless steel material: Resists to rust (harder to rust) and is the most suitable material for first selection.
  • Steel: Better durability and stronger load than stainless steel materials. However, since rust is likely to occur, plating treatment is required depending on the environmental conditions.
    (high temperature and humidity, environmental etc without lubricating oils or grease)
  • Copper material: Excellent conductive material. It is mainly used for contact parts and products which dislike magnetism.
    When used as a “spring” because of its soft material, its durability performance is low and its load is also low.
    Further, since the rust and discoloration is likely to occur, plating treatment is required.
Classification Material Spring property Corrosion resistance Continuity Remarks
Stainless steel SUS304WPB recommended × Because SUS304WPB is highly marketable and corrosion-resistant,Commonly used stainless materials.
Decrease in toughness is extremely small even in a low-temperature environment.
SUS631J1-WPC Material with enhanced heat resistance by precipitation hardening treatment.
Procurement takes time due to low marketability.
Iron materials SWB(60C) × Compared to piano wire, it is less expensive.
Tensile strength, when 100% of SWP-B, becomes about SWB:76%・SWC:86%.
SWC(80C)
SWP-A SWP-B is a commonly used ferrous material because it is highly marketable and durable.
Tensile strength, when 100% of SWP-B, becomes about SWP-A:90%.
(SWP-A takes longer to obtain)
SWP-B recommended
Copper materials C5191W-H × × Phosphor bronze for general springs.
Used for terminal springs, etc. that emphasize continuity.
It takes time to obtain materials. Please contact us separately.
C1720W-3/4H Beryllium copper is used in products that place a high priority on continuity.
By the age hardening treatment, load and durability are higher than phosphor bronze.
It takes time to obtain materials. Please contact us separately.

*Design using materials other than the above is also possible. Contact us for more information.
Depending on the material and marketability, the minimum ordering quantity and remaining materials may be purchased.
In such a case, we will contact us separately when making design consultations and making estimates.

Basic knowledge required for the calculations you want to know first

There are four main points.

Point 1 Load increase/decrease

  • Wire diameter (d): The thicker the wire, the greater the load.
  • The larger the mean diameter (D), the smaller the load.
  • Effective number of turns (Na): The more the number of turns, the smaller the load.

[For compression springs]

  • Free length (Hf): Longer the load becomes larger. (only when the load height does not change)

Point 2 for fracture
Relates to the allowable stress of the material.
If the allowable stress of the material is exceeded at the specified load, the material may be sagged or broken.

Point 3 How to eliminate sag breakage
(1)You can change the material or (2) increase the wire diameter.
(1)When changing the wire, the “SWP-B” may be more durable than the “SUS304WPB” and may be able to solve the problem with the same wire diameter.
However, care must be taken because the load also increases.
(2)Increasing the wire diameter increases the allowable stress, which helps to eliminate the problem.
However, the mean diameter must also be increased.

Point 4 How far can the diameter be reduced (increased)?
The maximum and minimum diameters vary depending on the spring index.
The spring index can be calculated by the mean diameter (D)/wire diameter (d).
The calculation formula for the mean diameter is shown below.
Mean diameter (D) = Inside diameter (ID) + Wire diameter (d) = Outer diameter (OD)-Wire diameter (d)

The values of spring indices that can be processed are as follows.
5 ≦ Spring index (D/d) ≦ 24

If the value falls below (exceed) this value, contact your nearest service center.

Please tell me the drawing symbol.

Drawing symbols are as follows.

[Compression spring/conical coil spring]

SymbolMeaning
IDInside diameter
DMean diameter
ODOutside diameter
dWire diameter
NtTotal number of turns
NaEffective number of turns
HfFree length
HsSolid length
HLoad height
PLoad
D/dSpring index

[Extension spring]

SymbolMeaning
IDInside diameter
DMean diameter
ODOutside diameter
dWire diameter
NaEffective number of turns
LfFree length
LLoad height
PLoad
D/dSpring index

[Torsion coil spring]

SymbolMeaning
IDInside diameter
DMean diameter
ODOutside diameter
dWire diameter
PLoad
NNumber of turns
Θ0Winding angle
Θ1・Θ2Specified angle
D/dSpring index

This is the number of life cycles during durability performance. Under what conditions will this be judged?

We are concerned about whether or not the answer has been made, but we do not consider various factors of severe environment (high temperature, low temperature, corrosion, vibration, impact, surging) as we design our products under extremely general use environment.

The test speed may also contain many factors.

In fact, even with 20000 calculations, there are actually 0.2 million cases, or in fact 20000 breaks.

This is a life test within extreme general factors, but even so much of the difference does not deny the factor part of the material, which is also an error from a multilateral point of view.

Therefore, our calculations are based on JIS B 2704 JIS B 2709, so we would like you to consider these calculations.

In general, in spring manufacturing, the variation with respect to the design value is thought to be 10%. How much variation is assumed when this variation is taken into account in your spring calculation form?

We do not take the dispersion into account in our calculation formula at all.

However, when the spring is machined as shown in the drawing, the straight correction value, etc. is replaced and the calculated value is correlated with the actual spring.

In addition, although the amount of dispersion is assumed, it is quite different depending on the spring. If you inform us of the specific drawing, dimensions, and specifications of the spring, we will give you a reply. Please let us know how to do it.

When we calculated the springs we are considering, we found that the allowable static load “no sag problem” and the estimated number of times of life “can be expected up to 50000 times.” In this case, do you think that the load change from the initial load does not occur even if you pile up the durability? Also, what percentage of change is expected when the load increases or decreases?

There are basic concepts regarding allowable static load and number of estimated life cycles.
Static load for cycles of 2000 cycles or less. In the above cases, emphasis should be given to the dynamic load (life cycle).

In general, the static load is used to check the deflection of the spring and the dynamic load is used to check the breakage of the spring.

In this inquiry, does the load change occur even if the durability is repeated? However, in the calculation (theoretical), it is considered that there is no change.
In particular, torsion springs have an advantage in that deflection in the direction of entrainment does not require stress correction. It is only a definition in the calculation, and conditions often deteriorate due to the material of the spring, processing method, low-temperature annealing treatment, etc. It is recommended to ask the “Spring Manufacturer” for production.

We are confident that we have acquired ISO9001 and are fully committed to providing high-quality products.
Please feel free to use it.

– Compression spring

What is the definition of buckling hazard? What is the % for?

Very complex formulas have been published in “Standards for JIS Springs” published by the Japanese Standards Association.
Of course, the section in which we asked us to examine the drawings has a variety of diagnoses using the calculation formula, but on our website, we simply call for the danger of buckling when the danger of buckling is “free height ÷ mean coil diameter” and “4” or more.
Conversely, when the value is less than “0.8”, it may be very difficult to process, so we judge it to be “under”.

In addition, all the values above are based on JIS, so please contact us for information on how to actually process them.

Then, the relationship between the aspect ratio and buckling is quite different even when the compression spring is supported.

If you contact us, we will diagnose how far can the height not buckle with the complicated calculation mentioned above? Please feel free to contact us.

How much is the accuracy of the first load and the second load of the compression spring?
In addition, what is the relationship between this and the setting method?

In the case of a compression spring, it is said that the upper and lower 30% of the total deflection from the free length to the crimp height does not stabilize the constant. In other words, if the first and second loads are set between 30% of each, the accuracy becomes unstable.

In addition, the actual diameter of the material will also change from the calculated diameter to the micron range. Therefore, the deflection of the constant will affect the accuracy of the first and second loads.
The instability of the mean diameter and the number of turns also affects the process. However, we are pleased to have some tolerances on the number of turns and the mean diameter in the process, since we will process according to the load in reverse.

Setting refers to an operation that applies a load to the spring to cause a certain degree of permanent deformation, thus increasing the elastic limit of the spring. This will have the effect of stabilizing the load.

We have made the general answer mentioned above, but please understand beforehand that the values of the coefficient (mean diameter ÷ wire diameter) of the spring and the value of the aspect ratio (free length ÷ mean diameter) are all changed.

– Extension spring

How do I need to specify the load when I want to calculate the tension by the external dimensions in the tension spring calculation?

As you know, extension springs have tension. (The force to keep the wires in close contact with each other even under no load) Even if the tension spring is of the same shape, the load strength can be changed by changing the initial tension within a certain range.

Therefore, what level of initial tension should be used to produce the required load for the size of the product being designed by the customer?

As mentioned above, since the initial tension is adjusted within a certain range, it is impossible to increase or decrease the tension infinitely. Therefore, in actual production of springs, it is necessary to specify the load in order to verify whether machining is possible or not.

What is the reference load value and the actual load value shown in the calculation result of tension spring?
In the calculation result of the load of the extension spring, the result that proper evaluation of the initial tension is difficult to process is displayed. Is this a spring that cannot be made even when the actual load is displayed?

When machining tension springs, the calculated initial tension and the actual machinable initial tension range are usually different.

The ideal value is calculated (100%), but it is said to be 20% to 200% after adjustment.

However, if the tensile strength is as high as 300%, processing is also possible depending on the product. In such a case, please contact us. We will verify it.

It is calculated in the range of general initial tension ratio, and the result is clearly shown in COOL.
We will be able to help you with the design if you consult with us.

In the load calculation results for the extension spring, the initial tension suitability evaluation displayed a result of “difficult to manufacture.”Does this mean that even though the actual load is displayed, it is a spring that cannot be made?

When processing extension springs, the calculated initial tension and the range of initial tension that can actually be processed usually differ.
The ideal is to match the calculation exactly (100%), but it is said that adjustments can be made within a range of 20% to 200%.
However, if it is a high tension of around 300%, processing may be possible depending on the item, so please contact us in that case.
We will verify it on our end.
We calculate within the range of general initial tension ratios and clearly present the results objectively.
Please feel free to consult with us, and our company will be happy to assist with the design.

– Torsion spring

What is the height of the coil part of the torsion torque calculation result?

In our calculation formula, the height of this coil part represents the height at maximum entrainment, not the height in free state.
In other words, when the wire diameter is φ0.45 with a two-turn torsion spring, the helical section height is “1.35mm”. When the winding angle is 180 degrees, 0.45 x (2 + (180/360) + 1) = 1.575mm.

This is a case that is misunderstood when inputting for the reason of the shortage of our explanation. When inputting the number of turns, “2.4 turns” or “2.75 turns” are input, then “144 degrees” or “270 degrees” are input. In such a case, the number of turns in the natural state (when free) is added to “2.8 turns” or “3.5 turns”.

If such misunderstanding is found, enter a numerical value with no decimal point (natural number 1, 2, 3, etc.) and enter the part involved in the numerical value in the field of the winding angle.

In the case of the above example, please enter as the number of turns “2”, the winding angle “144” degree and “270” degree.

For φ1.0mm wire diameter, 10 turns, 90 degrees of winding angle, and 180 degrees of winding angle, the coil section height at the time of freedom (natural condition) is 11.25mm, and the coil section height at the time of max. winding is 11.75mm.

Regarding the deflection angle of the torsion spring calculation (What refers to the first deflection angle and the second deflection angle?)

Regarding the first deflection and second deflection in your inquiry, please refer to the figure below.
In the case of the product shown in the figure, the figure shown with a solid line indicates that the product is free of any load. We think that the moment or load is important when you put it to the position A and B in your use condition. However, the movement angle to A and the movement angle to B are the “deflection amount”.
There are various methods for free time when the moment does not come out to the required value… One of them is to reduce the winding angle of free time (reduce 90 degrees) and increase the amount of deflection…

About calculation formula of tension spring
A. Which formula is used to determine the bending stress?
B. Where is the standard for allowable static load judged?
C. What is the criterion for evaluating the estimated number of life cycles?

Equation for calculating stress

When used in the winding direction.




When using in rewinding direction.



B. Criteria for allowable static load
Multiply the smallest JIS tensile strength of each wire by each factor.
C. Criteria for estimated life load
The upper and lower stress coefficients (τmax or τmin /σB) are obtained and derived in the Guttman diagram.

I think that there are two types of torsion springs: the winding type and the rewinding type. In the case of the rewinding type, leave a space in the column in the load direction and insert the deflection angle with respect to the winding angle in the minus angle? For example, when the winding angle (state without load) is 0 degrees and the deflection angle is the rewinding direction, etc.

In the calculation, the item “Load direction” is located below the second deflection angle.
Check this box to calculate the entrainment type. Uncheck this box to calculate the rewind type. In other words, you can leave it blank as you wish.
However, if this check is cleared, the numerical value for which deflection is entered will be calculated in the rewind direction, so no negative input is required.
Also, regarding the winding angle, consider it as the winding angle of the coil section.

Flat spring

Where do you know the availability of materials?

Refer to the “(Link) of Available Materials and Weight.”
In addition, the availability is displayed in the “Material availability” column for each material/thickness selected at the time of calculation.

The desired material is not on the list.

If you consider using materials not listed, please contact us separately.
Please (Link) here for inquiries

How do I calculate if there is only one level of opening width in use?

Enter the value of “Initial Opening Width” in “Opening Width (1)” in the calculation items, and enter the value of the specified opening width at the time of use in “Opening Width (2)” in the calculation items.
*In this case, the image is used between the initial opening width ⇔ working opening width (2).

Cannot satisfy the desired load value.

When designing, consider the following as design tips.

– Relationship between load, stress and plate thickness, plate width and deflection

Thickness: Effective to load by the third power
   Be effective in proportion to stress
   (If the plate thickness is 0.5mm→0.8mm, 0.8^3/0.5^3 = 4.1 times the load is generated.)

Width: Proportional effect on load
   The stress does not change if the whole width is constant.
   (If the plate width is 1.0mm→2.0mm, twice the load is generated.)

Deflection: Effect proportional to load and stress
   (If the deflection is 1.0mm→2.0mm, double the load is generated.)

From the above, we recommend examining the following procedure.
(1)Increase the plate width within the allowable range in the specifications.
(2)Minimum required deflection is set while considering dimensional tolerances
(3)Increase the plate thickness to match the target load.
 (If excessive stress occurs, it is highly likely that it will not hold in the current shape.)
(4)Make fine adjustments with the amount of deflection

*Please note that this is not necessarily a shape that can be realized because it is necessary to design the product in consideration of its durability.
Design should be balanced against durability performance.

How can I choose a material for tempering?

The properties such as the strength (tensile strength and hardness) of the material change depending on the tempering.
Refer to the following for the distribution of material tempering.

Soft

Tempering symbol

Hard

1/2H

3/4H

H

EH

*The classification of tempering differs depending on the type of material.
Soft temper ⇒ Workability “○” Durability “△”
Hard temper ⇒ Durable “○” Workable “△”

As mentioned above, the workability and durability may be affected by the tempering process.
Thank you for your reference and for your calculation. First, we recommend that you consider using the softest material (such as 1/2H).

 

For free-access customers, a softer tempering is set in advance and calculated.
Upon receiving an inquiry, we are also able to propose specifications for other tempering methods in consideration of durability and other factors.

COMPRESSION SPRING

The Problem

At that time, it was necessary to assemble 32 springs in order to press 16 needles against the retainer with one-way clutch bearings for automobiles. However, the assembly takes a lot of man-hours. The customer was seeking to reduce the man-hours required for the work.

As an operation, since two compression springs of the same shape are assembled per needle, if this push spring is one part connected from the beginning, the assembly can be completed in one operation. Can this not be connected?

The Solution

  • Development Speed
  • Advanced Technological Capabilities to Reduce the Number of Cutting-Edge Equipment Components

Since the machine setter which heard the explanation could not be processed at all by the conventional coiling machine, it was decided to change to the NC multi-forming machine. However, because of the structure of the machining machine, machining is not possible by a series of programs, but by devising such as preparing a sub-program halfway, it was possible to make two springs into a set. As a result, 32 assembly steps were reduced by half to 16 steps, and customer ordering management was also simplified. After 10 years of development, the line became the standard product with 24 hours full operation a month.

Specifications

Product

Compression spring

Forming Method

Numerical control machine

Location

Japan

Customer

Bearing manufacturer

Application

Clutch

Market

Automobiles

Leadtime

3weeks

Purpose

To prevent vibration loosening of nuts

Solution

Advanced equipment, prototyping

Customers Benefit

By converting two parts into one part, the man-hour for assembly is reduced by half, and the management cost is also reduced

THE ADVANEX ADVANTAGE

The Problem

A switch manufacturer contacted Advanex because the local spring maker they were working with was unable to produce springs that met their design specifications. Advanex offered support, despite the fact that the springs they were using were made by a competitor. The customer had produced specifications for the springs on their own and had them produced by a local spring maker but they were found to be over-stressed and ineffective. They tried to use the Advanex design software on our website but needed the know-how of a specialist, so they contacted the Advanex Customer Support Center.

The Solution

Advanex was able to offer superior service and knowledge to meet a specific challenge. This was achieved by:

  • Rapid prototyping and testing
  • Quick and helpful correspondence
  • Knowledge and technical ability

The customer required a functioning torsion spring for use in a new joystick. The customer requested that Advanex design and develop a spring that would continuously work through the full range of movement required.

To strengthen the customer’s relationship with Advanex, we arranged for their engineers and ours to communicate directly due to the complex nature of the project. After discussing the matter, our engineer at the Koriyama Prototype Center designed a spring that was, in theory, up to the task and sent the drawings to the customer.

Using a numerical control multi-forming machine at the prototype center, they produced a sample with more coils to reduce fluctuations in stress and avoid spring setting and also adjusted the leg angles to meet the customer’s required torque levels and add durability.

In all, five prototypes of the spring were produced. All communication was done via telephone and e-mail exchanges with the customer, who appreciated the quick responses from Advanex. During development of their initial product, the customer then ordered a compression spring, which further demonstrated their faith in Advanex’s capabilities.

Specifications

Product

Torsion spring

Forming Method

NC multi-forming machine

Location

Japan

Customer

Switch manufacturer

Application

Joy stick

Market

Electronics

Leadtime

6 months after initial request

Purpose

Achieving a full range of joystick motion

Solution

Mass-production, fast and effective design

Customers Benefit

They remain competitive

ADVANEX GLOBAL NETWORK SUPPORT

The Problem

An electrical equipment manufacturer made a request to the Advanex group for local procurement and overseas production through its global network. In order to reduce costs, the customer wanted to move his production from Japan to Thailand. As the Advanex Thailand factory is located within 500 meters of the customer’s own factory, they approached the group to see if mass-production was possible in Thailand. The customer also demanded competitive quotes from competitors to ensure they were getting a good price.

The Solution

The transition of production from Japan to the customer’s native Thailand was a smooth process. This was due to:

  • An effective world-wide network
  • Consistency and cooperation between the different areas of the group
  • The knowledge of the Advanex staff

The parts used in digital single-lens reflex cameras are technically demanding, requiring advanced processes to produce. Japan would determine the specifications and pricing but manufacturing would be transferred to Thailand to bring down costs.

In order for this transition to be smooth, it was essential that we had a system for developing prototypes in Japan and transferring the technical details to Thailand.

Advanex also needed to develop and manufacture parts with short lead times and respond quickly to changes in design specifications.

The customer was satisfied with the transitioning of mass production to Thailand. Based on the customer’s requests, the Koriyama Prototype Center and the Niigata production factory worked synergistically to produce samples for the customer’s design department. Improvements were made promptly, giving Advanex an advantage over potential competitors. Once approved, the final designs were submitted and explained to Thailand. Niigata offered continued support to Thailand. Making a trouble-free start to mass-production locally for the customer.

Another advantage the Advanex group had over competitors is that both Niigata and Thailand had the same machinery and technical capabilities, which are employed world-wide, making transfer of production overseas easy.

Specifications

Product

Conical, extension and flat springs

Forming Method

Multi slide forming, power press, coiling

Location

Designed in Japan, produced in Thailand

Customer

General electrical equipment manufacturer

Application

Camera parts

Market

Electronics

Leadtime

1 year in development

Purpose

To drive costs down

Solution

Localization of production

Customers Benefit

Target costs met

SWITCH INSERT MOLDING

The Problem

The customer was an electrical switch manufacturer with a problem during assembly of their product. Solder spatter during the connector assembly process had increased costs to an unacceptable level. The spattered solder rendered defective the expensive electronic chips, (supplied as a connector for an air conditioning unit to the automotive industry), leading to a high rejection rates and a substantial increase in costs.

The Solution

The customer had a significant problem that was costing them dearly. Advanex was able to solve the problem through creative use of their advanced technology. We offered:

  • An innovative approach
  • Advanced processes
  • An inexpensive, easy solution

The customer approached Advanex with the need to develop a connector that would not be damaged from solder spattering during assembly. They needed an easy way of protecting the expensive device from damage.

The creativity of Advanex engineers and with proven technology made it possible to find an ideal solution. To prevent solder spattering during assembly, they found that it would be useful to integrate a cover into the product. The cover should not hinder the soldering process, and removal once the component is installed needed to be simple with no risk of damage to the rest of the device.

To do this, the cover needed to be secure but insubstantial enough to allow easy removal. The main factor was the material thickness of the joint portion.

An ideal thickness could not be calculated but the engineer was able to achieve optimal performance through his best judgement.

To manufacture the product, Advanex used our double insert molding technology. The approach to solving this problem has been and object lesson to Advanex staff that demonstrates the importance of creativity in finding a solution.

Advanex is proud to have developed a product that is still vital to this customer 15 years later.

Specifications

Product

Insert molding

Forming Method

Insert molding

Location

Japan

Customer

Switch manufacturer

Application

Electric board connector

Market

Electronics

Leadtime

3 months in development

Purpose

Develop connector preventing solder spatter

Solution

Creativity, craftsmanship

Customers Benefit

Product yield improved dramatically, product

MOBILE PHONE INSERT MOLDING

The Problem

The customer, a leading producer of mobile phone antennas in Japan, approached Advanex with a sketch of a small piece of folded wire that would act as an internal antenna in a mobile phone. At the time (2001), mobile phone antennas had a ‘pop-up’ design, but if this product could be made to work successfully, the design of mobile phones would be greatly improved, while making them smaller. To create a functional internal antenna the customer believed it should be made from a small folded wire spring housed in the body of the phone.

The Solution

From wire spring to a flat spring insert molding, the change in thinking led to huge success. Advanex was able to offer:

  • Innovative solutions to new problems
  • Unrivalled expertise in metal manufacturing methods
  • Resources to meet a huge production demand

The customer requested that Advanex develop the smallest internal antenna possible, with a high receiving capacity. Advanex developed this antenna utilizing a spiral shaped spring of excellent quality, which was a world first.

In order to get a spiral spring to fit into the phone housing, Advanex first made a prototype resin case. However, the customer could not get a stable signal because the pitch of the spring was affected by the phone’s vibrations. Advanex brainstormed the problem and an insert molding engineer proposed using a press processing method that utilized the spiral shape to get a favorable reception. This lateral thinking was the reason for Advanex’s success.

Based on our sketch the customer cut and bonded copper foil onto a handmade resin prototype and achieved the required reception with the Advanex design. Working with the customer, Advanex then developed trial precision flat springs integrated into an intricate plastic molding. Using this technique and our automated insert molding process, Advanex was able to give the customer a product that gave both good reception characteristics and ease of assembly into the mobile phone.

The change in design from a wire spring to a flat spring insert molding ensured high productivity for both Advanex and the customer. It was a world-first product and gained the customer a reputation for innovation in the industry.

Specifications

Product

Insert molding

Forming Method

Insert molding

Location

Japan

Customer

Antenna manufacturer

Application

Internal mobile phone antenna

Market

Mobile phone technology

Leadtime

6 months in development

Purpose

Improving phone design

Solution

Advanced equipment technology, creativity

Customers Benefit

Total sales of over 4 million, a huge success

MEDICAL WIRE FORM

The Problem

The customer was a medical equipment manufacturer that had received reports of accidents occurring with their new product – the lens cover on their halogen lamp had detached due to the fastener becoming loose under heat, creating a potential hazard. Medical institutions demanded the product be improved and the customer had to work quickly to calm the claims against their product as soon as possible.

  • The expertise of the technicians at the Koriyama Prototype Center
  • Keeping down the cost of the solution
  • Meeting production requirements

The customer’s product was used regularly in medical institutions, so it was impossible to collect and repair them all efficiently. They would have to visit all nationwide delivery destinations as soon as possible and replace the defective part to prevent accidents from the lens cover falling off.

It was essential that a simple solution be found so that the customer’s representative could make the repairs easily by themselves without having to modify the units—by making a hole for example.

In addition, because of the number of units it was essential to minimize the cost of this solution.

Due to the urgency of the situation, an Advanex representative took the customer to Koriyama Prototype Center. The most experienced of our technical staff made a trial spring by hand right away, and made a drawing based on the trial spring under the assumption that it would be mass-produced on our multi-forming machine.

After only two trials, the customer was satisfied and Advanex was able to supply the ideal product in just three weeks.

Specifications

Product

Wire forming

Forming Method

Multi-forming

Location

Japan

Customer

Medical equipment manufacturer

Application

Lens cover holder

Market

Medical

Leadtime

Three weeks

Purpose

To secure a lens cover

Solution

Quick response, rapid prototyping

Customers Benefit

Reputation of widely used product was protected

CAR INTERIOR TORSION SPRINGS

The Problem

With only one month until a model change, the customer could not find an acceptable solution to their problem – which was that his engineer was having great difficulty designing a spring with sufficient load for a glove box lid and pressure was building as the deadline approached. An Advanex representative brought the engineer and the product to the Koriyama Prototype Center to help solve the problem.

The Solution

For this difficult problem, Advanex was able to meet the customer’s deadline through:

  • Rapid prototyping and testing at the Koriyama Prototype Center
  • Excellent support and communication
  • Knowledge and advanced methodology

The customer’s problem was that if the spring load was too high, the glove box lid would not open; too low, and vibrations from the car would cause the lid to open. The engineer tested many spring variations but could not find an optimal solution.

With the deadline quickly approaching, the engineer made a drawing of a spring and sent it to the Koriyama Prototype Center. Based on this drawing, and with the advantages of numerical control machines and specialists, samples were prepared in increments of 1 newton around the engineer’s calculated optimal load.

The customer’s engineer then visited this facility and was presented with the spring samples, whereby he fitted them to the glove box and lid assembly. Choosing the best spring, the engineer returned to the customer’s site and proved that the spring passed the durability tests.

However, during assembly, the engineer discovered a possible risk of injury due to the sharp end of the spring. The engineer redesigned the spring to remove this risk and sent the drawings back to Advanex. The spring was redesigned, further improved and finally, after several trials, the ideal spring was supplied within the customer’s one month deadline.

Specifications

Product

Torsion spring

Forming Method

NC machine

Location

Japan

Customer

Plastic parts manufacturer

Application

Car glove box

Market

Automotive

Leadtime

One month after development request

Purpose

To have a specific required load

Solution

Prototyping and testing, development speed

Customers Benefit

Exceeded expectations with a very fast lead time

Contact
Web Spring Calculation