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Sizes and tolerances
0.10 to 8.0 mm, in annealed, spring or as-drawn temper.
Diameter
| Diameter band | Finished tolerance | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0.10 – 0.50 mm | ±0.008 mm | Fine mesh, small springs, thermocouple sheathing |
| 0.50 – 2.00 mm | ±0.015 mm | Springs, welding wire, general fabrication |
| 2.00 – 8.00 mm | ±0.030 mm | Heavy fabrication, mesh belts, structural wire |
Temper
| Temper | Chosen when |
|---|---|
| Annealed | Softest, for forming and for subsequent age hardening |
| Spring temper | Cold worked, for parts that must hold a load |
| As drawn | Where the customer’s own process sets the final condition |
What temper changes downstream
The same grade at the same diameter forms completely differently depending on temper. A spring-temper 718 wire will not take a tight bend that an annealed one takes, and an annealed one will not hold the load a spring-temper one holds. Name the temper and the forming operation on the enquiry — they are decided together.
Work hardening
These grades work-harden faster than the base-metal thermocouple alloys. The intermediate anneal sequence is set per grade, so a change of alloy mid-order means a new drawing schedule rather than a rerun of the same passes.