Spring fabrication/calculations

[speed]

Does anyone know of a good and safe way to make large wire springs in a tool room other than using a lathe?? I'm talking wire over 1/4" or so.

There is a 'spring calculator" and "spring designer" that is web based at www.catalogsprings.com. For most of our needs, there is something close to be had. We use a haas cnc lathe to make some of our repair parts in house, problem is over a certain size, it's harder to find solutions!
Thanks.

[allessence]

Originally Posted by speed

Does anyone know of a good and safe way to make large wire springs in a tool room other than using a lathe?? I'm talking wire over 1/4" or so.

There is a 'spring calculator" and "spring designer" that is web based at www.catalogsprings.com. For most of our needs, there is something close to be had. We use a haas cnc lathe to make some of our repair parts in house, problem is over a certain size, it's harder to find solutions!
Thanks.

Depending on production you could use a 3/4" ratchet.. Weld a socket onto a piece of pipe with the same ID you want then with a slot cut into the end of the pipe simple feed the wire in..

springs are usually drawn cold so with a length of cheater pipe on the ratchet you could certainly apply enough pressure to form the spring..

[scatter cat]

You might could fab up a frame with a right angle worm gear speed reducer piece of pipe and a pillow block to support the outboard end. Then add some way to hold the wire and feed it on the pipe. With the worm gear to hold it while under tension it shouldn't sling anything like trying to wind by hand. This is just my WAG may or may not work.