Compression Spring Design Resources

Engineering a product, such as a mechanical watch, requires careful planning and design, particularly for components like compression springs. This guide provides you with resources to aid in the creation of these parts. You'll find textbooks for comprehending the basics, online calculators for straightforward computations, and directories of leading manufacturers for the production stage. These resources are aimed to prepare you, the engineer, to manage any scenarios you may encounter in compression spring design.

Reference Textbooks and Handbooks

• Spring Design Handbook – Harold Carlson: This resource provides detailed techniques relevant to various spring types, including compression springs. It emphasizes methods for calculating stresses and appropriate material selection.

• Spring Manufacturing Handbook (Second Edition) - Richard T. Strong: This handbook provides information about both the design and manufacturing processes of springs, which includes details on machining, finishing, and testing. It aims to aid comprehension of the relationship between design, cost, and the manufacturing process.

• The Mechanical Design Process - David Ullman: Though this resource features a vast range of engineering topics, it does incorporate aspects of spring design. It presents guidelines for mechanical design, however, for more detailed spring design considerations, reference to other specialized resources may be necessary.

• Standard Handbook of Machine Design - Joseph E. Shigley: This resource focuses on mechanical design, offering specified knowledge about spring design and associated equations. For calculations including the material modulus and geometric properties, this handbook provides useful equations.

• Design of Machine Elements - V B Bhandari: This resource gives information about many machine elements, including spring design. However, due to its broad scope, navigation to the sections specifically about spring design will be necessary.

Utilities: Websites and Calculators

• CoilsDB Compression Spring Calculator: Built for the fast iteration, this calculator is the only one on this list that lets you enter in as few inputs as you'd like, plus provides you with a massive selection of COTS springs and a custom solution. Ideal if you just need to make an informed decision without spending too much time iterating until you reach your precise requirement.
• The Engineering ToolBox: This is a website that features a variety of useful tools for engineers, including calculators which can be used in spring design. These calculators are equipped to compute key parameters, such as forces and dimensions. For example, when an engineer is focused on the suspension system of a vehicle, these calculators assist in determining the appropriate spring stiffness based on the vehicle's weight and size.
• Springipedia: This is another online resource that provides information and calculators related to spring design. It is important to acknowledge that the requirements of spring design may vary depending on the application and ambient conditions. For example, the parameters for designing a spring for a mechanical watch vary significantly from those for an automotive suspension system. This website considers such variability.
• The Institute of Spring Technology: This is an institution dedicated to the spring industry. One of its main offerings is the Spring Calculator Professional (SCP) software. This software is applicable, for instance, in the design of a safety valve. It provides the capability to calculate the suitable spring dimensions for a given cracking pressure, factoring in the spring material and operating environment.
• HyperPhysics: This website presents explanations, equations, and calculators for multiple engineering topics. For instance, in the design of a shock absorber, in addition to spring design parameters, principles of fluid mechanics are also critical. HyperPhysics includes resources that cover this aspect.

Valuable Manufacturers

Manufacturers are crucial in the spring design process due to the resources they offer. For instance, Century Spring Corp. and Associated Spring provide aids such as online seminars, data sheets, and technical assistance. These resources are mainly designed to support standard spring designs but may not be as effective for custom requirements.

In situations where unique or complex spring designs are required, specific manufacturers like Lee Spring can offer more structured support. Engineers can communicate directly with their counterparts at Lee Spring to discuss tailor-made design needs. Though engaging at this level might extend the design process and increase costs, it generally results in improved quality and safety in your spring design.

Consider a concrete example. When designing a compression spring that must bear high loads for a critical safety function, conventional resources might not be adequate. In such scenarios, engaging directly with a team of specialists from Lee Spring can result in a superior grasp of the spring design requirements and ultimately safer, custom solutions.

When choosing a manufacturer, match their resources to your spring design needs. The complexity and individuality of the spring design should guide this selection process.

Conclusion

For engineers focusing on spring designs, design resources are important. Textbooks provide extensive knowledge while calculators ensure accurate values for physical properties. Trustworthy manufacturers offer useful advice and guides, helping reduce mistakes. These resources, when used correctly, are an essential tool for your spring design tasks, supporting innovation and successful results.