A method for producing a flat spiral spring formed as an annular disk-shaped segment, wherein a strip-shaped material is supplied in a tangential alignment to the lateral surface of the drum such that a lateral wall which determines the thickness of the strip-shaped material rests against some sections of a contact surface on the lateral surface of the drum. The contact surface of the drum has a radius which substantially corresponds to an internal radius of the strip-shaped material, and at least one deflecting device is aligned at a distance to the drum such that the strip-shaped material is guided in a forced manner between the drum and the deflecting device, and the strip-shaped material is bent so as to follow the drum by means of the deflecting device.

A method for manufacturing a balance spring for a balance, which includes creating a blank from an alloy containing: niobium: the remainder to 100 wt %, titanium: between 40 and 60 wt %, traces of elements selected from the group formed of O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, between 0 and 1600 ppm by weight individually, and less than 0.3 wt % combined; -quenching the blank, such that the titanium of the alloy is essentially in solid solution form with -phase niobium, the -phase titanium content being less than or equal to 5% by volume, at least one deformation step of the alloy alternated with at least one heat treatment step such that the niobium and titanium alloy obtained has an elastic limit higher than or equal to 600 MPa and a modulus of elasticity lower than or equal to 100 GPa, a winding step to form the balance spring being performed prior to the final heat treatment step, prior to the deformation step, a step of depositing, on the alloy blank, a surface layer of a ductile material such as copper, to facilitate the wire shaping process, the thickness of the deposited ductile material layer is chosen such that the ratio of the area of ductile material to the area of NbTi alloy for a given cross-section of wire is less than 1.

A method for manufacturing a balance spring for a balance, which includes creating a blank from an alloy containing: niobium: the remainder to 100 wt %, titanium: between 40 and 60 wt %, traces of elements selected from the group formed of O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, between 0 and 1600 ppm by weight individually, and less than 0.3 wt % combined; -quenching the blank, such that the titanium of the alloy is essentially in solid solution form with -phase niobium, the -phase titanium content being less than or equal to 5% by volume, at least one deformation step of the alloy alternated with at least one heat treatment step such that the niobium and titanium alloy obtained has an elastic limit higher than or equal to 600 MPa and a modulus of elasticity lower than or equal to 100 GPa, a winding step to form the balance spring being performed prior to the final heat treatment step, prior to the deformation step, a step of depositing, on the alloy blank, a surface layer of a ductile material such as copper, to facilitate the wire shaping process, the thickness of the deposited ductile material layer is chosen such that the ratio of the area of ductile material to the area of NbTi alloy for a given cross-section of wire is less than 1.

Feedback-based systems and methods for bending wire are provided. The systems and methods may allow for modification of wire bending based on feedback received from one or more feedback-generating elements (e.g., image-capturing device(s), computer processing device(s), vision systems, etc.) used for monitoring one or more characteristics of a wire (e.g., shape, size, dimension, angular configuration, etc.) to determine, and provide to various wire-bending components of the system, appropriate modifications to the wire-bending process. Modifications to the wire-bending process may occur in real time without stopping the wire-bending process. Furthermore, a wire may be bent into a sinusoidal wire structure for forming springs for use in various applications.

Feedback-based systems and methods for bending wire are provided. The systems and methods may allow for modification of wire bending based on feedback received from one or more feedback-generating elements (e.g., image-capturing device(s), computer processing device(s), vision systems, etc.) used for monitoring one or more characteristics of a wire (e.g., shape, size, dimension, angular configuration, etc.) to determine, and provide to various wire-bending components of the system, appropriate modifications to the wire-bending process. Modifications to the wire-bending process may occur in real time without stopping the wire-bending process. Furthermore, a wire may be bent into a sinusoidal wire structure for forming springs for use in various applications.

A wire forming apparatus comprises a first rack moveable relative to a second rack in a first direction, a plurality of first forming structures provided on the first rack, and a plurality of second forming structures provided on the second rack. Each of the plurality of first forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent first forming structure, and is configured to move in a second direction closer to the adjacent first forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. Each of the plurality of second forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent second forming structure, and is configured to move in the second direction closer to the adjacent second forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. The second direction is different from the first direction.

A wire forming apparatus comprises a first rack moveable relative to a second rack in a first direction, a plurality of first forming structures provided on the first rack, and a plurality of second forming structures provided on the second rack. Each of the plurality of first forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent first forming structure, and is configured to move in a second direction closer to the adjacent first forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. Each of the plurality of second forming structures is configured to move in the first direction, is separated from an adjacent second forming structure, and is configured to move in the second direction closer to the adjacent second forming structure when the first rack moves relative to the second rack. The second direction is different from the first direction.

A wire forming apparatus comprises a first rack moveable relative to a second rack in a first direction. Multiple forming structures are provided on the first rack and the second rack. The plurality of forming structures include a first plurality of forming structures configured to move relative to the first rack in a second direction, and a second plurality of forming structures configured to move relative to the second rack in the second direction. A plurality of are actuators are configured to move the first rack relative to the second rack, move the first plurality of forming structures relative to first rack, and move the second plurality of forming structures relative to the second rack.

A wire forming apparatus comprises a first rack moveable relative to a second rack in a first direction. Multiple forming structures are provided on the first rack and the second rack. The plurality of forming structures include a first plurality of forming structures configured to move relative to the first rack in a second direction, and a second plurality of forming structures configured to move relative to the second rack in the second direction. A plurality of are actuators are configured to move the first rack relative to the second rack, move the first plurality of forming structures relative to first rack, and move the second plurality of forming structures relative to the second rack.

Feedback-based systems and methods for bending wire are provided. The systems and methods may allow for modification of wire bending based on feedback received from one or more feedback-generating elements (e.g., image-capturing device(s), computer processing device(s), vision systems, etc.) used for monitoring one or more characteristics of a wire (e.g., shape, size, dimension, angular configuration, etc.) to determine, and provide to various wire-bending components of the system, appropriate modifications to the wire-bending process. Modifications to the wire-bending process may occur in real time without stopping the wire-bending process. Furthermore, a wire may be bent into a sinusoidal wire structure for forming springs for use in various applications.