HELICAL SPRINGS & CALCULATING THE FORMULA

Helical springs are those familiar spiral wound, coil-shaped, mechanical components. Think Slinky. Often referred to as a coil spring, a helical spring is essentially an elastic coil formed by tightly winding a piece of wire into a cylinder. The elastic properties of a helical spring allow it to deflect the action of a load and then, when that load is removed, return to its original shape. Given that there are only three types of helical springs—compression, tension, or torsion springs—what type of load the spring carries will determine what type of spring will be used in an application.

Helical Spring Formula Calculation Functions

Helical spring formulas are calculated to ensure the spring will function in a device or mechanism as expected. The manufacturing of a spring cannot be left to guesswork or approximation.

As mentioned, much to do with calculating the formula for helical springs involves selecting a material with the necessary properties for the application, along with other factors such as its working load, tolerances, cycles, and so forth. The spring’s wire diameter, D, its inner diameter, ID and outer diameter, OD, its mean coil radius, R, the number of active coils, VN, and other variables are calculated to ensure the desired force-deflection response is achieved.

Additionally, the formula for a helical spring, its measurements and specifications, will differ in relation to the type of spring—compression, tension or torsion—too. The measurement of a compression spring will require 4 specifications—the wire diameter, its outer diameter, the free length of the spring, and the number of coils must be factored.

an application.

Helical Spring Formula Calculation Functions

Helical spring formulas are calculated to ensure the spring will function in a device or mechanism as expected.  The manufacturing of a spring cannot be left to guesswork or approximation.

As mentioned, much to do with calculating the formula for helical springs involves selecting a material with the necessary properties for the application, along with other factors such as its working load, tolerances, cycles, and so forth.  The spring’s wire diameter, D, its inner diameter, ID and outer diameter, OD, its mean coil radius, R, the number of active coils, VN, and other variables are calculated to ensure the desired force-deflection response is achieved.

Additionally, the formula for a helical spring, its measurements and specifications, will differ in relation to the type of spring—compression, tension or torsion—too.  The measurement of a compression spring will require 4 specifications—the wire diameter, its outer diameter, the free length of the spring, and the number of coils must be factored.