Machined spring (overview)
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Machined springs
Machined springs available from Abssac Limited are a formidable package and for those engineers familiar with the traditional wound spring format we are offering a new way of looking at both performance and attachment.
Ask yourself....Do you know what a machined spring is ?
Whilst we all agree that traditional wire wound springs have numerous bonifide applications, the very nature of how they are manufactured can limit their reliability and performance in the more demanding or high duty cycle spring applications. Time and time again we have reduced the burden overhead within mechanical systems with the machined spring product.
With machined springs all the usual types of spring format are available;
Compression springs
Extension springs
Torsion springs
Lateral translation springs
Lateral bending springs
So why machined springs.? Machined springs can provide very precise, linear deflection rates because virtually all-residual stresses are eliminated. (Normal rate accuracy is +/-10% but we have regularly obtained +/-0.1% for the more demanding applications !) As a result, there are no internal stresses to overcome before deflection occurs, which can be the case in the wire wound spring. In addition to this we uniquely can offer multiple start spring coil configurations. The most common configuration is the single start spring, which consists of a single continuous coil element, which starts at one end and terminates at the other end, much like its wire wound counterpart. However, we can offer a double start or indeed a triple spring which has two or three intertwined continuous coil elements, still within the same single part construction. In effect, this puts multiple independent helixes in the same cylindrical plane, which provides totally enhanced spring performance.
With the machined spring, perpendicularity, parallelism, lateral bending, axial and torsional rates can be guaranteed. We like to think of it as.....Precision Elasticity...
Multi-start springs have many advantages. When applied to compression and extension springs, a single start spring provides a reaction force plus a moment. On multiple start flexures, all internal moments are resolved within the spring itself, which translates into excellent compression or extension parallelism.
When considering the dynamics of the machined spring the we look at the 6 possible Cartesian co-ordinates, those being X,Y,Z and then the ROTX, ROTY & ROTZ ( please refer to illustration on right hand side of page). A wound spring tries to deliver all 6 axis potentials when it is asked to move. A machined spring can be a single degree of freedom system, delivering motion in only one of the possible six axis and the double start machined spring is the closest single Cartesian co-ordinate deflection part available with todays technology.
However it must not be forgotten that it is also possible to predict and deliver multi cartesian axis springs. For example, some applications have demanded an accurate mixture of compression, lateral and torsional spring rates. !
There is no tendency for the spring to squirm when deflected, and no restraint is necessary to resolve the free moment. Double and triple start variants make the loading points irrelevant on the radius of the spring but increase the accuracy of parallelism. Another advantage of multiple start spring elements is that they not only provide redundant elastic elements should a failure occur, but a failed element (coil) will be physically trapped by the remaining one and in many cases will allow the albeit reduced function of the spring design to still operate.
Amalgamation of parts reduces the tolerances on the overall part ...
Once the working dynamics of the spring are calculated and agreed, we can then look at the method of attachment. In many cases the machined spring incorporates other parts of the working mechanism into the single part, such as flanges, gears, splines etc, making the final item more reliable. The choice of end attachment is really up to your imagination. !
The advantages of the machined spring product are numerous having proven itself in medical, aerospace, semiconductor and motor-sport industries to name a few. Wherever a wound spring is not able to meet your performance criteria or a new spring design requires ultimate accuracy and repeatability, the machined spring is the ideal partner.The next time you require a spring in a critical or high duty cycle environment, the machined spring from Abssac Limited may be the answer to your design problems. The product is machined to meet exact customer size and performance requirement.
- Compression Extension Springs Torsion Springs Lateral bending and translation springs
- Predictable linear rates are available to meet application requirements
- With 10% down to <1% performance tolerance
- Can be configured to your compression, extension, torsion, lateral translation, lateral bending rate - or a mixture of pre determined rates
- Virtually no residual stresses
- Special or custom end attachments can incorporated into the one piece design
- Eliminate the need for multiple suppliers
- Single, double and triple coil start spring versions
- Titanium, steels, high strength steels and engineering plastics can be utilized
- Unbeatable parallelism and perpenducularity improves reliability and performance
If you require further technical information, please do not hesitate to contact our sales engineers who will be more than happy to help you with your selection. Alternatively download the relevant catalogue from the download button at the top of this page or use the following link to request a printed catalogue or a CD version. CD/Catalogue
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