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Glossary of Spring Manufacturing Terms

From MW Industries

In addition to the definitions below (for a plain text version, click here), also see the "Frequently Asked Questions" for questions relating to spring design and manufacturing.

Active coils Those coils which are free to deflect under load. Angular Relationship of Ends Relative position of hooks or loops of an extension spring (-Iends of a torsion spring) to each other.

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Products & Services
Spring Washers
Spring washers, sometimes called disc springs, lend their mechanical capabilities to the unique profile of the material: the irregularities of the washer compress with a proportionate resistance to return to their predeflected shape. Spring washers are employed in applications where assemblies need a part to take up play, maintain assembly tension, compensate for expansion or contraction in materials, or to absorb intermittent shock loads and provide a controlled reaction under dynamic loads.
Constant Force Springs
Constant force springs are a variety of extension spring. A strip of steel with a preset curvature is coiled tightly so that each turn of the strip rests on its inner neighbor. The spring is actuated in a pulling, liner motion with the deflection resistance originating from the material's stiffness and spring construction. Unlike other extension springs, a consistent degree of force is exerted despite the degree of deflection.
Power Springs and Spring Motors
Power springs and spring motors are rotational-drive springs that are wound tightly and mounted on an arbor. They are used in applications such as retractable reels, tape measures, and retracting seat belts.
Extension Springs

Helically wound to oppose resistant forces, extension springs have consistent mechanical energy to return to its no-load, compressed position. The ends of the spring are attached to components intended to move apart, with the extension spring providing a reliable return force.

Torsion Springs
Helically wound springs that deflect torque rotationally, torsion springs express mechanical energy through the property of elasticity: the spring action happens when it is twisted rather than compressed or pulled. Despite the name, torsion springs are subject to bending stress--not torsion--as the torque is carried through the length of the wound material.
Product Announcements
Lee Spring Company - Torsion Springs
TORSION SPRINGS are helical springs that exert a torque or rotary force. The ends of torsion springs are attached to other components, and when those components rotate around the center of the spring,... (read more)
Lee Spring Company - Extension Springs
EXTENSION SPRINGS are attached at both ends to other components. When these components move apart, the spring tries to bring them together again. Extension springs absorb and store energy as well as... (read more)
Lee Spring Company - Custom Torsion Springs
Lee Spring manufactures Custom Torsion Springs in a wide range of materials, in wire diameter .005" to .375", right or left hand wound, with legs designed to meets you specifications... (read more)
Lee Spring Company - Custom Extension Springs
Lee Spring manufactures Custom Extension Springs in a wide range of materials in wire diameter .005" to .625", a variety of end designs as well as configurations, including conical and drawbar. (read more)
Topics of Interest

The active coils are what make a spring a spring. We normally refer to the coils that open in an extension spring, the coils that deflect or close in a compression spring and the coils that twist or...

The active coils are what make a spring a spring. We normally refer to the coils that open in an extension spring, the coils that deflect or close in a compression spring and the coils that twist or...

This FAQ covers a wide range of questions relating to spring design and manufacturing.

Spring manufacturing, as any other production process, is not exact. It can be expected to produce variations in such spring characteristics as load, mean coil diameter, free length, and relationship...

Extension Spring Ends...