Wave Springs: How They Work and Why You Need Them

06 May.,2024

 

Wave Springs: How They Work and Why You Need Them

Wave springs are a type of compression spring that work differently than traditional compression springs. They use the wave of the metal to store energy, which makes them more efficient and reliable.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website wavespring.

1. What are helical springs and what do they do?

1.1 What are helical springs and what do they do?

Wave springs are a type of compression spring that are used to absorb and dissipate vibration. They are made up of a number of waves that are connected together, and as the waves move, they store and release energy. This helps to dampen vibration and keep the system stable.

1.2 What are the benefits of helical springs?

Wave springs are compression springs that are designed to work in conjunction with other springs. They are used to absorb and dampen vibrations, and to distribute stress evenly. Wave springs have a number of benefits, including:
-They are able to withstand high levels of stress and vibration.
-They are able to distribute stress evenly, which reduces the likelihood of failure.
-They are able to dissipate heat, which helps to extend the life of the spring.
-They are able to improve the performance of the system in which they are used.

1.3 What are the types of wave springs?

There are three types of helical springs: compression, torsion, and extension. Wave springs are used to support loads and absorb shocks. They are made of a series of coils that generate waves as they are compressed. This allows them to store energy and provide resistance to shocks.

1.4 How are coiled springs made?

Wave springs are made by rolling a flat piece of metal into a cylindrical shape and then coiling it into a spiral. This causes the metal to form waves in the spiral, which gives it its name. Wave springs are used to absorb shocks and vibrations, and to keep objects from moving around.

1.5 Where are wave springs used?

Wave springs are used in a variety of applications, including automotive, aerospace, and medical devices. They are particularly well-suited for applications that require large deflections and low spring forces. Some of the most common places you’ll see wave springs are in the suspension of a car or in the hinge of a door.

2. How do wave springs work?

2.1 What is a coiled spring?

Wave springs are a type of compression spring that is designed to work with waves of force. The waves of force cause the coil spring to compress and expand, which allows it to absorb and distribute the force. This makes coil springs a good choice for applications where consistent force is needed over a large range of motion.

2.2 How does a wave spring work?

Wave springs are made up of a series of small wave-like coils. When compressed, these coils stack on top of each other, which in turn, creates a wave-like compression. As the wave travels down the spring, it dissipates energy and provides a cushioning effect.

2.3 What are the benefits of using a coil spring?

Wave springs are a type of compression spring that are used to absorb and dampen vibrations. They are made up of a series of waves that are connected together, and they work by compressing and expanding as the waves move. This allows them to store more energy than traditional compression springs, and they can also withstand higher levels of vibration. Wave springs are ideal for applications where noise and vibration need to be minimized, such as in engines, transmissions, and other machinery.

2.4 What are the different types of coil springs?

Wave springs are a type of compression spring that use waves of compression to store energy. There are three main types of helical springs: torsional, linear, and radial. Torsional helical springs are used to store energy in rotating systems, while linear and radial helical springs are used to store energy in linear systems.

3. Why are helical springs important?

3.1 What are wave springs and why are they important?

Wave springs are important because they offer an alternative to traditional coil springs. They are made of a series of waves that compress and expand, which makes them more durable and able to handle more weight.

3.2 How do coil springs work?

Wave springs are important because they offer a unique combination of features that are not found in other types of springs. They are able to store and release energy very efficiently, which makes them ideal for use in a variety of applications. How do helical springs work? They are made up of a series of undulations that run the length of the spring. When the spring is compressed, the waves are flattened out, and when it is released, they return to their original shape. This allows the spring to store and release energy very quickly, which makes it ideal for use in applications where response time is critical.

3.3 What are some benefits of using coiled springs?

Wave springs are important because they offer a number of benefits over other types of springs. For example, they are more compact and can handle more pressure than traditional coil springs. Additionally, coiled springs are less likely to fail under load, making them a more reliable choice for applications where safety is a concern.

Wave springs are a type of compression spring that use waves or undulations in their design to store and release energy. They are used in a variety of applications where a small amount of force over a long period of time is needed.

The company is the world’s best washer flange supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Related Products

How and Why You Should Use a Wave Spring for Bearing ...

Preloading a Bearing: What is Preloading, How to Preload, Why Should You Preload a Bearing?

Content provided by Smalley

What do we mean when we say “preload”?

A bearing is designed to move freely and has multiple moving parts that work together as one unit. Tolerance stack up from both manufacturing and assembly can quickly cause issues.

This is where preloading a bearing comes in. Preloading a bearing involves providing a sustained axial load to the bearing.

How Do I Preload a Bearing? Are There Different Types of Preload?

There are two main methods to preload a bearing. The first is solid preload, which is achieved by holding inner and outer races in place with a locking mechanism.

The more common, simpler, and less expensive method is spring preload, which is achieved by using a spring to apply a constant axial load on one side. A Smalley single-turn wave spring provides the necessary preload force between the inner or outer races while also compensating for any tolerance stack-ups or thermal misalignments. Play is reduced both axially and radially, as depicted in the image below.

So what’s the big deal, why do we preload bearings?

Controlling play is necessary to maintain bearing functionality and longevity. Preloading a bearing provides constant contact between the bearing type (ball, needle, etc.) and bearing races. The sustained load provided by the spring eliminates axial and radial play, among other benefits. The overall goal of preloading is to prolong bearing life, and therefore, your application.

Advantages of Spring Preload

Properly preloading a bearing will prolong the bearing’s life. Using a spring for preload is critical for high-precision or high-speed applications, as it essentially eliminates the need for holding tighter tolerances and helps withstand high operating speeds.

Using a spring for preload is critical for high-precision or high-speed applications. (Credit: Smalley)
  1. Axial and radial play control
    Ball complement and bearing races mate reliably and take up dimensional variation.
     
  2. Less wear on the bearing
    Greater load sharing between bearings due to wave design. 
     
  3. Vibration and noise reduction
    Quieter assemblies, even in high-vibration applications.
     
  4. Eliminate ball skidding
    Constant force is applied for smooth movement.
     
  5. Precise shaft positioning
    Wave spring keeps shaft centered for optimal centrifugal distribution.

What type of spring should I use to preload a bearing?

Every application is unique, which makes selecting the proper wave spring very important.

It’s important to consider overall tolerances, as placing too much preload on the bearing can reduce longevity, while too little can cause higher noise output in high-vibration systems.

Smalley’s bearing preload wave spring SSB series is carefully designed with the application in mind. The two types of single-turn wave springs we offer are gap and overlap.

The two types of single-turn wave springs we offer are gap and overlap. (Credit: Smalley)

While the gap type splits its ends, the overlap type overlaps its ends. Both end configurations can move freely around the circumference as the spring compresses, providing an advantage over traditional wave washers. Wave washers can bind, or become rigid, if pushed into the cavity too much, causing the spring load to become unpredictable.

We have over 300+ standard parts available in carbon steel and stainless steel to match popular bearing sizes. Find your size by checking out the bearing cross-reference table. A Nested spring is another type of spring we offer that can accommodate higher preload requirements. A three-turn Nested spring is pictured in the bearing application below. 

A three-turn Nested spring (Credit: Smalley)

Additional Resources

As always, our engineering team can assist you in designing a custom preload bearing spring for your unique application. 

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit bearing wave spring washer.

  • Download or Request Smalley’s Parts & Engineering Catalog
  • Request Free Samples to test in your application
  • Send us your application requirements and we’ll find or design the right part