Product

Compression Springs

September 14, 2010

Typical applications for compression springs are to provide pressure, as in an electrical contact spring; to resist the movement of another component, as in a pressure gage; to return another component to a desired position, as in a door latch; or to store and release energy, as in a toy dart gun. Compression springs fall into the following general categories based on their overall shape:

Cylindrical, straight or standard
All coils are the same diameter. These are the most common and least expensive compression springs. They are produced on high speed, automatic spring coilers that can produce up to 300 parts per minute. The ends can be either open or closed and they can be ground flat, although grinding significantly increases the cost and is often unnecessary for small wire sizes. For more on end types click here.

Conical or tapered
The coil diameter decreases from one end of the spring to the other. These springs are often used when there is not enough room for a cylindrical spring. They can be made so that the smaller coils telescope down into the larger coils as the spring is compressed so that the spring compression springs can operate in a smaller axial space. Conical springs can also be made so that the load vs. deflection curve gets steeper as the spring is compressed and the larger diameter coils bottom out or “go solid”.

Barrel or convex
Tapered so that both ends are smaller than the middle. These springs can have some of the same advantages as a conical spring with the added advantage that they are symmetrical. The reduced ends may also aid in automatic assembly or may help keep the spring centered around a smaller diameter shaft.

Hourglass or concave
Tapered so that both ends are larger than the middle. These springs can have some of the same advantages as a conical spring with the added advantage that they are symmetrical. The enlarged end coils may also help keep the spring centered on a larger diameter hole.

Variable pitch
Wound with a varying amount of space between the coils. This technique can be used to produce springs with a non-linear load vs. deflection curve, or to add closed coils in the centre of the spring to reduce tangling.

Preset
Springs that will operate at a stress level that exceeds the elastic limit of the material can be preset by compressing a spring to solid height. This process removes any permanent deformation due to exceeding the elastic limit of the material and builds in beneficial stresses near the wire surface, with an apparent increase in the elastic limit.

At Templeman, we can produce all of the above types of compression springs to your exact specifications. We also stock a large selection of straight compression springs and a limited selection of conical compression springs. We are well equipped to work within the following size ranges:

• Wire diameter – 0.004in [0.1mm] to 0.080in [2mm]
• Coil outside diameter – 0.030in [0.75mm] to 1.75in [45mm]
• Free length – Up to 16in [40cm]
• Spring index – four to 24 (Mean coil diameter divided by wire diameter)

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