Types of Material Used to Create Custom Wire Forms

The most common steel wire materials used when making custom fabricated wire forms are low carbon steel, high carbon steel, stainless steel, and alloy steel.  Oregon Wire uses these materials when producing wire forms for our customers.

  • Low carbon steel is a type of steel that contains a small amount of carbon, typically less than 0.3%. It is a common choice for wire forms because it is inexpensive, easy to work with, and has good ductility and toughness. Low carbon steel wire forms are used in a variety of applications, such as in the construction and automotive industries.
  • High carbon steel is a type of steel that contains a higher amount of carbon, typically between 0.6% and 1.5%. It is harder and stronger than low carbon steel, but also more brittle. High carbon steel wire forms are used in applications where strength and wear resistance are important, such as in gears and springs.
  • Stainless steel is a type of steel that contains at least 10.5% chromium, which gives it excellent corrosion resistance. Stainless steel wire forms are used in a variety of applications, including in the food and beverage industry, medical devices and aerospace.

Forming Low Carbon Steel Wire

When making a wire form, the process varies depending on the raw material.  Forming low carbon steel wire and stainless steel wire into a usable part typically involves several steps:

  • Cutting: The first step is to cut the steel wire to the desired length using a cutting tool, such as a saw or shears.
  • Bending: Next, the wire is bent into the desired shape using a bending tool, such as a press brake or a jig. The wire is bent to the exact angles and dimensions specified by the design.
  • Welding: If necessary, the wire is then welded together at specific points to create the final shape. This step is particularly important for wire forms that need to be strong and stable.
  • Finishing: The final step is to finish the wire form by cleaning or polishing it to remove any burrs or sharp edges. The wire form may also be coated or treated to improve its resistance to corrosion or wear.

It is important to note that the specific process of forming low carbon steel wire and stainless steel into a usable part will depend on the design specifications and the intended use of the wire form. Some wire forms may require additional steps such as heat treating, painting or plating, while others may require more complex machining processes to achieve the desired shape.

Forming High Carbon Steel Wire

Forming high carbon steel wire into a usable part typically involves several steps as well.

  • Cutting: The first step is to cut the high carbon steel wire to the desired length using a cutting tool, such as a saw or shears.
  • Heat treating: High carbon steel wire is usually heat treated to increase its strength and hardness, so this step is usually done before any further processing. The wire is heated to a specific temperature, then cooled rapidly to create a hardened surface.
  • Bending: Next, the wire is bent into the desired shape using a bending tool, such as a press brake or a jig. The wire is bent to the exact angles and dimensions specified by the design.
  • Tempering: After bending, the wire is tempered to reduce its brittleness and increase its toughness. Tempering is done by heating the wire to a lower temperature than the one used for hardening.
  • Welding: If necessary, the wire is then welded together at specific points to create the final shape. This step is particularly important for wire forms that need to be strong and stable.
  • Finishing: The final step is to finish the wire form by cleaning or polishing it to remove any burrs or sharp edges. The wire form may also be coated or treated to improve its resistance to corrosion or wear.

Turning high carbon steel wire into a usable part typically involves several steps such as cutting, heat treating, bending, tempering, welding and finishing. Each step is important to achieve the desired shape and size, and to improve the wire form’s resistance to wear or corrosion. The heat treating step is crucial for high carbon steel wire, as it helps to increase its strength and hardness.

Oregon Wire Does Custom Wire Fabrication

In conclusion, the most common steel wire materials used when making wire forms are low carbon steel, high carbon steel, stainless steel and alloy steel. Each one of them have different properties and are used in different industries and applications. The choice of material used will depend on the specific requirements of the wire form and the conditions it will be exposed to.  Reach out to the team at Oregon Wire for a quote on your next project involving custom fabrication of wire forms.  

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