SMI Introduces First 300-Level Spring Design Course
By Gary McCoy
SMI’s technical director, Rick Gordon, presented the first offering of the association’s first advanced spring design training class, Spring Design 301–Springs Fatigue in January 2022. Thirty-nine students from 25 companies participated in the webinar which was well received with many favorable student comments. The training effort was supported by Todd Piefer, vice president, applications development at Universal Technical Systems, Inc. (UTS), SMI’s software partner. Piefer helped facilitate the class, administering quizzes and addressing student questions about the Advanced Spring Design software (ASD7). Development of the 301 training module was championed by Jason Sicotte at Associated Spring/Barnes Group and Al Mangels at Lee Spring Company. Piefer at UTS provided important content using the ASD7 software. Additional team members included SMI president Bert Goering, Gary Van Buren and Gordon. Based on student input, the next training modules selected for development are: 205–Beam, Constant Force, Spiral and Torsion Bar Spring Design and 206–Snap Ring Design. There has also been interest expressed for advanced 201, 202, and 203 classes. In the 16 course offerings (201, 202, 203, 301) to date, 440 student training sessions have been taught both in person and virtually. A second new class, 304 Springs–Dimensioning, Tolerancing, and Testing was scheduled to take place March 24, and SMI’s third new class, 206–Snap Ring Design will be offered Sept. 15. Future class offerings in the popular basic (200 series) and advanced (300 series) include: 2022 Virtual Classes
Date
201 Compression Spring Design
Thursday, April 14, 2022
202 Extension Spring Design
Thursday, May 19, 2022
203 Torsion Spring Design
Thursday, June 16, 2022
301 Springs–Fatigue
Thursday, July 21, 2022
206 Snap Ring Design
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022
201 Compression Spring Design
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022
202 Extension Spring Design
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
203 Torsion Spring Design
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022
SMI will present two in-person classes at the 2022 CASMI SpringWorld event as shown below: 2022 In Person Classes — CASMI SpringWorld
Date
301 Springs–Fatigue
Wednesday, Oct 12, 2022
304 Springs–Dimensioning, Tolerancing and Testing
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022
Training Overview
SMI’s spring design training program consists of three fundamental, seven basic, and four advanced spring design training classes. Fundamentals courses were developed with new hires and non-technical staff in mind. Basic classes are designed to meet the needs of production and technical staff, including engineers, designers and inspectors. Advanced courses address a higher level of expertise for engineers, designers and other technical staff. The SMI technical committee has been working to develop these programs. Two fundamentals training modules, “Spring Fundamentals” and “Overview of Spring Making Materials,” are available to the public on the SMI website: www.smihq.org. SMI member feedback for these modules has been very favorable. Courses are organized as focused, real-world spring design training programs, combining basic spring design content for each spring type with practical hands-on use of SMI’s wellrespected ASD7 software. For each spring type, students will learn: • The seven-step spring design process • Definitions and terminology • Design theory • Design stress analysis • How to input engineering design data into the ASD7 software • Important ASD7 tolerancing criteria Classes benefit students by increasing their spring design knowledge and benefit their company by having an SMI-trained associate as part of their team. For more information, visit www.smihq.org or contact Dina Sanchez at dina@smihq.org. n SMI has a team of experts, who speak the language of springs, ready to assist you. It could be a metallurgy question about fatigue life or corrosion. Or perhaps you need help with a spring design and the use of materials when manufacturing springs. To find out how SMI Technical Services can help you, phone 630-495-8588 or visit www.smihq.org/springsadvice.
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