Articles

3 Types of Specialty Springs and Best Uses for Each

Getting specialty springs designed for your unique needs ensures they match up with how you intend to use them. But how do you figure out what type of spring you need? You can find many types of specialty springs on the market, each one with different purposes. 

Aligning your needs with a specific type of spring can be challenging. Use this guide to help you match up common uses for springs with your applications to find the right product for your business needs. 

4 Uses for Tapered Springs

With a tapered spring, the diameter of the coil gets smaller from one end to the other. Tapered springs display lateral stability and don’t buckle even when subjected to heavy pressure. 

You can find tapered springs used most often when something does not have the space for a straight compression spring. They fit in small areas and can decrease the amount of bouncing wherever they are used. A few common uses for tapered springs include: 

1. Engine parts
2. Battery contacts
3. Push buttons
4. Garage doors

4 Uses for Hourglass Springs

As the name suggests, the hourglass spring is skinny in the middle and wider at the top and bottom. You can open or close the ends of an hourglass spring. The coils often sit inside nearby coils. When you need a low solid height, hourglass springs fit the bill. They provide similar lateral stability to tapered springs, and they will resist surges. 

When you employ hourglass springs, you can decrease long-term maintenance costs because this type of spring is extremely sturdy and will continue to serve its purpose for a long time. Hourglass springs can be made with a variety of material types and finishes. Several popular applications for them include: 

1. Locomotives and other types of trains, including freight or metro cars
2. Engines
3. A range of consumer goods
4. The aerospace industry

4 Uses for Conical Springs

Conical springs are a form of compression springs shaped like a cone. Compression springs store up energy and release it when they are deployed. Conical springs have a lower solid height than other styles of compression springs, allowing them to demonstrate an almost constant spring rate. They have a variable force rate and uniform pitch. 

Conical springs have a well-earned reputation for durability, so the manufacturing industry relies on them a great deal. Conical springs are some of the most common you will find in everyday life, popping up in household items such as: 

1. Cell phones
2. Firearm firing mechanisms
3. Lawnmowers
4. Medical devices

Partner With IDC Spring for Premium Specialty Springs

When you purchase specialty springs for your business, you want reliable, sturdy designs that will stand up to long-term use. No matter what your design calls for, IDC Spring has the products you need for your unique applications. Our high-quality springs will get the job done and provide long service life, and you can pick from a variety of wire types and finishes as well. Get in touch today to learn more about our springs or to request a quote.