Input wire does not need to be round - a special shape of wire may be the key to making your fastener or formed part at a lower cost

摘要

Wire is the most common starting point for making fasteners and precision formed parts of all types, sizes and shapes. Fastener manufacturers strive to make their products to meet or exceed expectations at the lowest possible cost and with the least amount of material waste. When you hear the word wire, you should not limit your thinking to plain round wire - wire can be made in a wide variety of shapes and profiles. Detailed knowledge of the world of flat and special shaped wire can lead to opportunities for cost reductions and new manufacturing capabilities. You do not have to start your forming process with a round wire. Instead, start with a shape, and you may be able to reduce the number of forming steps or you may now be able to cold-head a part that could not be formed from a round wire. There is more than one way to reach the same goal, and as a diversified manufacturer of shaped wire, flat wire and custom-designed metal profiles, we are very familiar with developing unique raw material solutions for the fastener industry. We work with numerous grades of steel and alloyed metals, and we often assist in tailoring a chemistry to fit a special need. A sampling of some typical flat and shaped wires is shown in Figure 1.