Feature

The wave spring advantage

When considering a spring element for an application, it is worth comparing the familiar and traditional spring options with another innovative spring type: a wave spring. Most engineers have experience with coiled or disc springs, whilst wave springs remain somewhat of a mystery.

04/01/2022 16:41:45

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The flat wire design of wave springs offers the best balance of size and spring force in many applications, and they offer considerable advantages over their
more common counterparts.

One of the main reasons wave springs are specified in design is the impressive force-to-work height ratio, as they can produce the same or
even greater forces as coil springs, whose work heights are up to twice as large. In static applications, a wave spring will typically need just 50 percent
of coil springs’ work height to deliver an equivalent force. In dynamic applications, the work height advantage is approximately 30 percent lower than in static applications, but
still substantial. Wave springs can also save space in the radial direction, compared with using disc or coil springs with larger diameters.

Read the full article in DPA's January issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.