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Engineers often want the strength and performance of metal springs, but they also want the springs to resist corrosion and chemicals, be nonmagnetic or nonconductive, and be lightweight, as well as stable at high temperatures. To meet this need, engineers at Lee Springs, Brooklyn, N.Y. (www.leespring.com), have designed a line of plastic composite springs dubbed LeeP springs made of Ultem resins. The injection-molded springs have a high strength-to-weight ratio and fit standard hole sizes from 0.375 to 1.0 in., with free lengths from 0.375 to 1.250 in. There are eight different sizes and each size comes in six different strengths. The six increasing strengths are easily identifiable by colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, with violet being the strongest. Spring rates for the entire LeeP line range from 3.25 to 16.75 lb/in. Different-sized springs also can be stacked and nested to get custom spring lengths and rates. The springs retain their mechanical characteristics in temperatures up to 340°F and are recyclable.
Edited by Stephen J. Mraz