Ask the Expert - Wave Spring Substitution, Compression and Performance

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 substitutions, wave spring compression, and wave spring performance.

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 have four pocketed coil springs that load a coupling connection. Can wave springs be used to replace the coil springs in this application?

In many applications, wave springs can serve as a replacement for coil springs.

For a coupling connection, a single wave spring can be designed to work along the circumference of the housing and remove the need for pocketed springs entirely. Smalley may be able to offer a standard, off-the-shelf item that can serve this need. Contact Smalley Engineering with an assembly drawing for engineering design assistance.

Can wave springs be compressed to flat for extended periods?

We do not recommend compressing any spring to solid, but Smalley has designed springs that can operate in these conditions. Please contact Smalley engineering to discuss your application in more detail.

How does spring performance change over time in a static application?

Typically, a spring’s performance will not change over time in a static application.

However, if a spring is being compressed close to solid or is operating at a temperature greater than the recommended operating temperature, then it could experience some set, resulting in load loss. This can cause performance reductions and changes.

Contact Smalley engineering today for help determining which ring will properly suit your purpose.

That’s all for now. Do you have your own question to Ask the Expert? Submit it below.