extension springs

When you need springs or wire forms, there is no time to waste. We want to get you your parts as quickly as we can, and part of that relies upon the information that you give us. When you request a quote from us, we will ask you for several key pieces of information. And while you don’t have to provide us with everything, the more you give us, the faster the process will be.

Confused about precisely what specification you need in your compression, extension or torsion spring design? Here are a few, but not all, of the most common pieces of information that is helpful to creating a custom part for your application.

Spring Index

Spring index is the proportion that determines that strength of your spring and the amount of stress that it can withstand. It is calculated by dividing the mean diameter (wire diameter subtracted by the outer diameter) by  the wire diameter.

The factors that affect this calculation are type and thickness of wire used in the spring, how much stress will be placed upon it and the wire’s diameter.

Left Hand or Right Hand Winds

Springs can be wound in different directions. Right hand springs are wound clockwise while left hand springs are wound counterclockwise. Be sure to inspect your current springs to see which type you need.

Spring Diameter

Not to be confused with wire diameter, which indicates the thickness of the wire used, spring diameter are the few measurements taken from the outside, inside and mean diameter that relate to your spring. They are all related to one another and can not only affect the size of a spring, but its tolerance, as well.

Active and Total Coils

Make sure to count your coils correctly. Active coils are those that deflect, extend or bend with a load is applied to the spring. Total coils are exactly the number of coils that will be in the spring.

Have Questions?

A lot goes into designing and manufacturing the perfect spring for your application, but we don’t expect you to know everything (that’s our job). If you have any questions or reservations about your spring order, get in touch with us and let us know. If you know most of what you need, request a quote from us to get started more quickly.