Hot Products
Compact Wave Springs from China Suppliers - Ideal for Tight Space Applications | Factory Direct
Information
A wave spring is essentially a compression spring made of coiled flat wire with waves added along the coils to give it a spring effect. Wave springs are manufactured with either a plain end design, commonly known as wavy ends; or squared-flat end design, also known as a shim end.
Helpful Wave Spring Tips
⚠️
Avoid operating beyond the listed Nominal Load and Working Height, or the stresses may cause permanent spring set or failure.
⚠️
Solid Height information is provided for reference only. Operating to solid will cause extreme overstress regardless of the actual load or size of a wave spring design.
Applications
Wave springs are found in a wide variety of applications where structural considerations restrict the installation height, where uniform force distribution is needed and/or uniform rotational pressure is required over 360°. Wave springs are suitable for both static and slightly dynamic load applications, however, fatigue is a critical consideration when designing a wave spring for dynamic load applications. For higher life cycles a stronger wave spring is needed. Special solutions must be found for extremely dynamic applications, since considerable stress on the side wave curves can cause material abrasion at the contact point. Typical applications include connectors, clutches, valves, pumps, seals, medical equipment etc.
Wave Spring Materials
SMS Spring's Wave Springs are manufactured from a single filament of Type 17-7 Stainless Steel flat wire formed in continuous precise coils with uniform diameters and waves. For custom designs, there are many material and finish options. For high temperature and corrosive environments, careful material selection is required. You can consult with a SMS Spring engineer for technical information.
Stock Wave Springs
SMS Spring offers standard wave springs in both imperial and metric sizes:
📏
Imperial: Diameters available from .250" (6.35 mm) to 1.75" (44.45 mm) to meet load requirements from 2 lbs (8.9 N) to 90 lbs (400.3 N)
📏
Metric: Diameters available from 6 mm (.236 in) to 45 mm (1.772 in) to meet load requirements from 6 N (1.35 lbs) to 400 N (89.9 lbs)
Wave Springs Specifications
MaterialStainless Steel Type 17-7 PH
WireSingle strand of pre-tempered flat wire
TemperatureMaximum 650°F (340°C)
FinishPassivated
CoilsContinuous Coil
DesignUniform diameter and wave heights
Custom Wave Springs
Custom wave springs can be manufactured with a wide range of material, finish and size options to meet your exact design specifications. You may work with a SMS Spring Engineer to assist with the design and technical details for using a custom wave spring in your application. SMS Spring offers custom springs in both small and long run quantities.
Design Considerations
There are 4 critical factors when considering a wave spring:
- Constraints of the application: Bore/shaft, ID/OD etc.
- Load
- Working height at which the load is applied
- Material desired
🔔
If a wave spring is designed for static application, make sure the % stress at working height is less than 100%. Spring will take a set if subjected to a higher stress.
🔔
If a wave spring is designed for dynamic application, make sure the % stress at working height is less than 80%. A wave spring will take a set if subjected to a higher stress.
Precautions
⚡
If the working height of a wave spring per turn is less than (2 × Wire Thickness), the wave spring will operate in a 'non-linear' range and actual loads may be higher than calculated.
⚡
Number of turns must be between 2 and 20.
⚡
Number of waves per turn (N) must be ½ increments.
⚡
Min. Radial wall = (3 × Wire Thickness)
⚡
Max. Radial wall = (10 × Wire Thickness)
🚫
It is NOT recommended to compress a wave spring to solid height.
⚡
Outside diameter (OD) expansion and OD tolerance must be taken into account while designing a spring to fit in a bore and/or over a shaft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
What is a wave spring and how does it differ from a traditional coil spring?
A wave spring is a compression spring made from coiled flat wire with waves introduced along the coils to create a spring effect. Unlike traditional round-wire coil springs, wave springs provide a more compact profile and are available in plain (wavy) end or squared-flat (shim) end designs, making them ideal for applications with restricted installation height.
Q
What materials are SMS Spring wave springs made from?
Standard SMS Spring wave springs are manufactured from Type 17-7 PH Stainless Steel flat wire, formed in continuous coils with a passivated finish. Custom designs are available in a variety of materials and finishes to suit high-temperature and corrosive environments. Contact a SMS Spring engineer for specific material guidance.
Q
What size range is available for stock wave springs?
SMS Spring stocks wave springs in both imperial and metric sizes. Imperial diameters range from .250" (6.35 mm) to 1.75" (44.45 mm) with load capacity from 2 lbs to 90 lbs. Metric diameters range from 6 mm to 45 mm, supporting loads from 6 N to 400 N.
Q
What stress level should be maintained for static vs. dynamic wave spring applications?
For static applications, the % stress at working height should remain below 100%. For dynamic applications, it should remain below 80%. Exceeding these thresholds can cause the spring to take a permanent set, reducing its effectiveness or causing failure.
Q
Can a wave spring be compressed to its solid height during operation?
No. It is strongly not recommended to compress a wave spring to solid height. Doing so results in extreme overstress regardless of the load or spring size, potentially causing permanent deformation or failure. Solid height data is provided for reference purposes only.
Q
Are custom wave springs available and what design factors should be considered?
Yes, SMS Spring offers fully custom wave springs in small and large quantities. Key design factors include the bore/shaft constraints (ID/OD), required load, working height at load application, and material selection. Additionally, radial wall thickness (min. 3× and max. 10× wire thickness), number of turns (2–20), and OD expansion tolerances must all be factored into the design.