Ask the Expert - Available Deflection in Single Turn Wave Springs and Retaining Ring Gap Sizes

Welcome back to the Ask the Expert Blog, where our engineers answer commonly asked ring and spring design questions. This week, our experts field some questions about wave spring available deflection and retaining ring gap sizes.

For more than 100 years, Smalley has been the industry leader and technological pioneer of retaining rings and constant section rings. And for more than 50 years, Smalley has been revolutionizing the industry with compact wave springs. Whether you require a standard or custom solution, our dedicated team of engineers can design a solution for your target application performance.

I am considering using the SSR-0225 model wave spring. Your website states, “the calculated spring rate is linear through the first 80% of available deflection.” 
Is the available deflection the free length minus the work height? 
For example, this spring’s available deflection is .170 (free height) - .093 (work height) = .077 inches?

No. The available deflection refers to the range between the free length and the solid height. The free height is approximate and, therefore, so is the spring rate and available deflection.

Smalley standard springs are inspected only at the load at work height specified in the catalog. For example, the SSR-0225 is checked at a work height of .093 inches. 

While the spring may work at other heights, it is best to contact our engineering department to evaluate the theoretical spring characteristics at an alternate height. 

How do Smalley engineers determine the size of retaining ring gaps? What happens if a retaining ring is compressed such that the free ends touch?