compression spring
Introduction and working principle of compression spring
Compression Springs are open-coil helical springs wound or constructed to oppose compression along the axis of wind. Helical Compression is the most common metal spring configuration. These coil springs can work independently, though often assembled over a guide rod or fitted inside a hole. When you put a load on a compression coil spring, making it shorter, it pushes back against the load and tries to get back to its original length. Compression springs offer resistance to linear compressing forces (push), and are in fact one of the most efficient energy storage devices available.
The amount of energy stored in a compression spring is determined by the spring’s material properties, wire diameter, and number of coils. The spring’s rate, or stiffness, is determined by the wire diameter and the number of coils. The spring’s rate is the change in force per unit change in length, and it is measured in pounds per inch or newtons per millimeter. The spring’s rate can be adjusted by varying the wire diameter or the number of coils.
Compression Spring Applications
Compression Springs are found in a wide variety of applications ranging from automotive engines and large stamping presses to major appliances and lawn mowers to medical devices, cell phones, electronics and sensitive instrumentation devices. The most basic installation is anywhere requiring a push button. Conical type springs are generally used in applications requiring low solid height and increased resistance to surging.
Key Compression Spring Parameters
Rate: Spring rate is the change in load per unit deflection in pounds per inch (lbs/in) or Newtons per millimeter (N/mm).
Stress: The dimensions, along with the load and deflection requirements, determine the stresses in the spring. When a compression spring is loaded, the coiled wire is stressed in torsion. The stress is greatest at the surface of the wire; as the spring is deflected, the load varies, causing a range of operating stress. Stress and stress range govern the life of the spring. The wider the operating stress range, the lower the maximum stress must be to obtain comparable life. Relatively high stresses may be used when the operating stress range is narrow or if the spring is subjected to static loads only.
Outside Diameter: The diameter of the cylindrical envelope formed by the outside surface of the coils of a spring.
Hole Diameter: This is a measurement of the space where you would insert a compression spring. It is the diameter of a mating part to a compression spring and often commonly mistaken for a dimension of the spring itself. The hole diameter should be designed larger than your compression spring’s outside diameter factoring tolerance and spring expansion under load.
Rod Diameter: This is a measurement of the rod that goes through the inside of a compression spring. Essentially a mating part, this rod can work as a guide shaft to minimize spring buckling under load. The rod diameter should be designed smaller than your compression spring’s inside diameter factoring tolerance; however, not too small or else it loses ability to minimize spring buckling.
Free Length: The length of a spring when it is not loaded. NOTE: In the case of extension springs, this may include the anchor ends.
Wire Diameter: This is a size measurement of the raw material used to form a spring. Conventional springs are made with round wires that are specified to a diameter. Consult our guide on How to Measure a Compression Spring.
Solid Height: This is a length dimension of a compression spring at its maximum loaded condition. Effectively, this is the compression spring’s height when all the coils are pressed together.
Spring Set: This is an occurrence when a spring is loaded beyond its material elastic strength. It is a kind of permanent deformation that is noticeable when a spring does not return to its original length after releasing a deflection load. Depending on the application, spring set can be either desirable or undesirable.
Load at Solid Height: This is a measurement of the force required to completely deflect a compression spring to where the coils are fully pressed together. For product designers that want to avoid the occurrence of bottoming out a compression spring, Load at Solid Height is quick reference property to find springs capable of handling an assembly’s maximum operating load.
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