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Spring Tension Washers

General Stress Strain Behavior of Spring Tension Washer

(Note – this graph is not to scale)

Spring tension washers have a wide range of mechanical uses in an even wider range of products.

General-purpose spring tension washers are the most cost-effective for applications not requiring a controlled force at a specific height.

Load rated spring tension washers have a controlled force at a specific height.
They were originally engineered for the side loading of bearings in housings and have more processing steps and controls than the general-purpose series.
Load rated spring tension washers are used in a wide range of applications – anywhere consistent and repeatable load in a tight space is required.

This graph illustrates general stress strain behavior of spring tension washers relative to each other.

General Purpose Spring Tension Washers

Curved WashersCurved WashersPURPOSE
  • General purpose curved washers are used to apply tension between two static surfaces or to apply friction between two rotating surfaces.
  • Curved washers eliminate “play” between these surfaces and prevent rattles.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
  • Curved washers have the lightest thrust load of all spring washer types.
  • Curved washers have the most deflection of all spring washer types - relative to their size. Their free height is the tallest relative to their OD.
  • Curved washers have the lowest spring rate of all spring washer types.They have the most deflection per unit of force.
  • Curved washers have a linear spring rate between 20% and 90% of their total deflection.They should be engineered to work within this range.
Wave WashersWave WashersPURPOSE
  • General purpose wave washers are used to apply a more controlled amount of force between two static or rotating surfaces with less deflection than curved washers
  • Wave washers eliminate “play” between these surfaces and prevent rattles.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
  • Wave washers have medium thrust loads relative to other spring washer types.They have higher thrust loads than curved washers.
  • Wave washers have medium deflections relative to other spring washer types.They have less free height relative to OD than curved washers.
  • Wave washers have medium spring rates of all spring washer types.They have less deflection per unit of force than curved washers.
  • Wave washers have a linear spring rate between 20% and 80% of their total deflection. They should be engineered to work within this range.
Slotted WashersSlotted WashersPURPOSE
  • General purpose slotted washers are used to apply flexible travel between static surfaces or soft, uniform friction between two rotating surfaces.
  • Slotted washers are engineered to maintain a uniform pressure between surfaces, but not for repeated cycling or flexing.
  • Developed for use in electrical boxes, slotted washers are sometimes referred to as electrical washers.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
  • Slotted washers have higher thrust loads relative to other spring washer types.They have higher thrust loads than both wave and curved washers.
  • Slotted washers have less deflection than both wave and curved washers.They have thicker raw material relative to OD than both wave and curved washers.
  • Slotted washers have higher spring rates than both wave and curved washers.They have less deflection per unit of force than wave and curved washers.
  • Slotted washers have a linear spring rate between 20% and 70% of their total deflection.They should be engineered to work within this range.

Load Rated Spring Tension Washers

Finger Spring WashersFinger Spring WashersPURPOSE
  • Load rated finger spring washers are engineered to pre-load bearings with 10mm to 52mm OD.
  • They are meant to take up tolerance stack in bearing assemblies and to provide a light load on the outer bearing race. This makes for smoother, quieter operation and longer bearing life.
  • They can be used in other applications – anywhere a consistent and repeatable load in a tight space is required.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
  • Finger spring washers have the lightest thrust load of all load rated spring tension washers.
  • Finger spring washers are all engineered to operate with a deflection of 0.062”.Their free height is 0.125” and they are meant to operate at a height/gap of 0.062”.
  • Finger spring washers have the lowest spring rate of all load rated spring tension washers. They have the most deflection per unit of force.
  • Finger spring washers have a linear spring rate between 20% and 80% of their total deflection.They should be engineered to work within this range.
Wave Spring Washers Wave Spring Washers PURPOSE
  • Load rated wave spring washers are engineered to pre-load bearings with 10mm to 138mm OD.
  • They are meant to take up tolerance stack in bearing assemblies and to provide a medium load on the outer bearing race. This makes for smoother, quieter operation and longer bearing life.
  • They are frequently used in other applications – anywhere a consistent and repeatable load in a tight space is required.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
  • Wave spring washers have medium thrust loads relative to other load rated spring tension washers.
  • Wave spring washers have small to large deflections relative to other load rated spring tension washers depending on size.Wave spring washers have the largest range of sizes of all load rated spring tension washers.
  • Wave spring washers have medium spring rate relative to other load rated spring tension washers.
  • Wave spring washers have a linear spring rate between 20% and 80% of their total deflection.They should be engineered to work within this range.
Disc Spring WashersDisc Spring WashersPURPOSE
  • Load rated disc spring washers are engineered to pre-load bearings with 10mm to 52mm OD.
  • They are meant to take up tolerance stack in bearing assemblies and to provide a high and precise load on the outer bearing race. This makes for smoother, quieter operation and longer bearing life.
  • They are often used in precision spindles and machine members.
  • They are precisely manufactured to meet the requirements of DIN EN 16983.
  • They can be used in other applications – anywhere a consistent and repeatable load in a tight space is required.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
  • Disc spring washers have the highest thrust loads of all load rated spring tension washers. They have a high, precisely controlled force applied with minimal deflection in the narrowest gap.
  • Disc spring washers have the lowest deflections of all load rated spring tension washers.They have the least height relative to diameter of the load rated spring tension washers.
  • Disc spring washers have the highest spring rate of all load rated spring tension washers.They have the least deflection per unit of force – their engineered deflection is minimal.
  • Disc spring washers have a linear spring rate between 10% and 90% of their total deflection.They should be engineered to work within this range.

Providing Innovative Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions Since 1905

Since 1905, Hubbard Spring has been a manufacturer of a broad range of standard and custom parts made from strip, wire, and tube. We produce standard product lines of expansion plugs, spring tension washers, hair pin cotters, as well as custom stampings, slide formed components, wire forms, and all types of springs.