Guide Operator

Position: Spring Guide Operator
About us:

Founded in Brooklyn in 1918 by Robert Lee Johannsen, Lee Spring has grown into a global manufacturer with locations across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia — stocking more than 25,000 catalog products alongside custom-engineered solutions.

What you’ll Do:

A production position focused on creating precision coils using manual or semi-automated, hand-cranked and/or powered equipment. This position is responsible for setting up, operating, and maintaining hand-operated coil winding machinery to produce compression spring guides of various wire sizes and lengths.

Core Responsibilities:

Basic Machine Setup:
Securely mount the hand winder in a bench vice or specialized jig. Select and install appropriate mandrels (arbors) based on the required spring inner diameter.

Winding Operation:
Feed wire through tensioning guides and manually turn the crank to create coils on manual models. On servo powered models, the servo motor winds the coils. Maintain proper wire tension to ensure consistent spring rates and coil diameters.

Adjustment & Precision:
Adjust the winder’s pitch, angle, and tension settings to meet specific engineering specifications (blueprints/drawings).Finishing:
Cut the wire to length using the machine’s integral shear or manual side cutters.

Secondary Operations:
Perform minor forming tasks, such as creating loops/hooks on tension springs, using pliers, trimming and clipping.

Quality Inspection:
Measure springs using calipers or micrometer tools to ensure compliance with blueprint tolerances.

Maintenance:
Lubricate gears and moving parts, check for proper operation of locking mechanisms (cam locks), and ensure the tool is clean.

Any additional tasks when assigned.

Technical

Skills:

Wire Handling:
Ability to work with various wire types (music wire, stainless steel) and manage wire spools.

Tool Management:
Familiarity with mandrels, wire guides, and tensioners.

Inspection Techniques:
Proficiency in using measuring tools (calipers/micrometers).Blueprint Reading:
Understanding engineering drawings for spring specifications.

Typical Equipment Used:

Hand-operated spring winder

Servo powered motor winder

Bench vise.

Duckbill pliers and wire cutters.

Physical Requirements:

Hand-Eye Coordination:
Significant dexterity is needed for consistent wire tension and pitch control.

Safety Consciousness:
Ability to work safely with spring steel, which can release energy unexpectedly, and following strict safety protocols.

Speed/Efficiency:
Ability to hit production targets efficiently

Accuracy:
Maintaining tight tolerances on spring free length, coil diameter, and wire diameter.

Quality:
Minimizing burrs and deformations.

Requirements:

Must be able to read and follow written work instructions

High School Diploma or Equivalent Ability to lift or carry minimum 30 lbs.

High mechanical aptitude

Preferred manufacturing experience