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Information
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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
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Avoid operating beyond the listed Nominal Load and Working Height, or the stresses may cause permanent spring set or failure.
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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.
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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.
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Stock Wave Springs
SMS Spring offers standard wave springs in both imperial and metric sizes:
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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)
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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)
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Wave Springs Specifications
| Material | Stainless Steel Type 17-7 PH |
| Wire | Single strand of pre-tempered flat wire |
| Temperature | Maximum 650°F (340°C) |
| Finish | Passivated |
| Coils | Continuous Coil |
| Design | Uniform diameter and wave heights |
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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
Static Application:Make sure the % stress at working height is less than 100%. Spring will take a set if subjected to a higher stress.
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 outside diameter (OD) tolerance must be taken into account while designing a spring to fit in a bore and/or over a shaft.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is a wave spring and how does it work?
A wave spring is a compression spring made from coiled flat wire with waves formed along the coils to provide a spring effect. When compressed, the waves flatten, generating a controlled load. They are available in plain (wavy) end or squared-flat (shim) end designs, making them highly adaptable to a variety of assembly configurations.
QWhat materials are wave springs made from?
SMS Spring's standard wave springs are manufactured from Type 17-7 PH Stainless Steel flat wire, which offers excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and performance up to 650°F (340°C). Custom material options are also available for high temperature or highly corrosive environments — consult an SMS Spring engineer for guidance.
QWhat sizes are available for stock wave springs?
SMS Spring stocks wave springs in both imperial and metric sizes. Imperial sizes range from 0.250" (6.35 mm) to 1.75" (44.45 mm) in diameter, with load capacity from 2 lbs to 90 lbs. Metric sizes range from 6 mm to 45 mm in diameter, supporting loads from 6 N to 400 N.
QCan wave springs be used in dynamic load applications?
Yes, wave springs can be used in dynamic load applications, but fatigue life must be carefully considered. For dynamic applications, the stress at working height should remain below 80% to prevent spring set. For extremely dynamic conditions, special design solutions may be necessary to avoid material abrasion at contact points.
QIs it safe to compress a wave spring to its solid height?
No. It is not recommended to compress a wave spring to its solid height. Operating a wave spring to solid height will cause extreme overstress regardless of the actual load or spring size, which may result in permanent set or failure. Solid height data is provided for reference purposes only.
QCan SMS Spring manufacture custom wave springs to my specifications?
Yes. SMS Spring offers fully custom wave spring manufacturing in a wide range of materials, finishes, and sizes to match your exact design requirements. SMS Spring engineers can assist with design details, technical guidance, and are capable of fulfilling both small prototype runs and high-volume production orders.