Use the Right Spring for Your Application

Springs have revolutionized the way devices work and how we interact with certain products. They have automatized many advanced applications to work adequately with the click of a button or the activation of a switch. Springs form part of many products and they continue to be vital accessories of innovative devices.

How do you know when a spring can be used to assist in a vital function you need?

How do you know when a spring can be used to assist in a vital function you need? Springs can be useful in many cases but the function they carry out varies on the type of spring you use. First of all, it is important to understand what a spring does in general. Springs are resilient objects made from coiled wire and they store mechanical energy. They are divided into 3 categories: compression springs, extension springs, and torsion springs.

Compression Springs

A compression spring is a mechanical device in the shape of a helix made from spring wire. It is used to store or release energy. It can also absorb shock or maintain a force between two surfaces.

compression spring example

Extension Springs

Helical extension springs are used in devices where a piece is mobilized by a force and needs to return to its original position when the force is taken off. Its hooks allow for it to grab on to your device’s pieces and be pulled/extended.

extension spring example

Torsion Springs

Springs which eject a rotational or torsional force when a load is placed on one or both legs causing them to travel to a desired distance in degrees of deflection.

torsion spring example

In order to determine whether a spring is a good option for the function you want your device to complete, you must first assess what action you require. If you need the spring to release energy stored and create a push back motion you would most likely require a compression spring. If you are looking for a pulling action that extends and retracts you would use an extension spring also known as a tension spring. If what you require is a rotating or radial type of movement, then a torsion spring would tend to be more adequate.

No matter what type of spring you need or are thinking of, our Spring Finder and Spring Creator tools can help you find the ideal spring. If you know what dimension ranges you want and are searching for a spring in stock, use Spring Finder. If you need to create a custom spring, take advantage of our free design tool, Spring Creator, which also provides a list of similar springs in stock and a quote of the custom design you create. Should you need further assistance, you can contact us at: (951) 276-2777 Monday through Thursday, from 7:30am to 5:00pm.

Compression Spring Finder

Find and buy stock compression springs in two simple steps using Spring Finder. This easy to use search engine makes it easy to find and buy the stock spring you need.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

For the advanced search, you must select “Search More Fields”. Here you can enter:

Once you’ve entered your spring’s specifications, click “Search”.

The following are the specifications you can select to organize your search:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Extension Spring Finder

Find and buy stock extension springs in two easy steps using Spring Finder. This simple tool makes finding the stock tension spring you need a fast and productive task. Search through over 4,000 designs off the shelf.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

To access the parameters in the advanced search, click on “Search More Fields” where the following dimensions will be available:

The fields are not mandatory so you can choose whatever dimension you feel needed and click “Search” once you have done so.

These are the specifications you can organize your extension springs by:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Torsion Spring Finder

Find and buy stock torsion springs in two easy steps using Spring Finder. This simple tool makes finding the stock torsion spring you need a fast and productive task. Search through about 1,000 designs off the shelf.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

To access the parameters in the advanced search, click on “Search More Fields” where the following dimensions will be available:

The fields are not mandatory so you can choose whatever dimension you want and click “Search” once you have done so.

These are the specifications you can organize your torsion springs by:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Conical Spring Finder

Find and buy stock conical springs in two simple steps using Spring Finder. This easy to use search engine makes it easy to find and buy the stock spring you need.

The following simple steps will get you started:

In the basic search, you can enter:

For the advanced search, you must select “Search More Fields”. Here you can enter:

Once you've entered your spring's specifications, click “Search”.

The following are the specifications you can select to organize your search:

Spring Finder Results in Table

Spring Finder Results in Grid View

Use the Right Spring for Your Application

How do you know when a spring can be used to assist in a vital function you need?