Welcome back to our ‘Smalley Talk’ engineering blog. This week, we answer your cycle life and material selection questions.

Our application requires the spring to cycle. Can you provide fatigue data for your wave springs?

Yes, we can calculate the theoretical cycle life for our wave springs. Springs for dynamic applications will normally be designed specifically for the intended task as there are several design factors that are the key to determining the cycle life. Please note that theoretical cycle life estimates are just that ” estimates, we can validate this by actually testing parts in our cycle test machine, but ultimately the part must be tested in the application as only there will all of the operational factors be taken into account. If you are using the parts in a dynamic application please speak to one of our experts first, so we can work with you to optimise the design and performance.

Can you make springs from Inconel and other similar exotic materials?
Yes, we can design and manufacture wave springs in a variety of alloys, including various grades of stainless steel, beryllium copper, several different Inconel™s and other exotic materials. Remember that it is always best to choose a material based on the requirements of the application and the environment where the springs have to function. We stock standard springs in carbon steel and 17-7 stainless steel, but these may not suit corrosive or higher temperature applications.

Inconel™s are a group of nickel-chromium superalloys that are very well suited for use in extreme environments. We use X750, 718 and 625 depending on the application requirements. These materials are regularly specified within the Oil & Gas sector and within the Aerospace industry due to their excellent performance. If your spring is not intended for use in high temperature or aggressive environments, there are several less exotic, and less expensive, materials which may be better for you.

The most common materials that we work with can be found in ourcatalogue

To request a specific exotic alloy, contact your TFC Engineer today.

That™s all for now, in the next installment of Smalley Talk, you will learn more about crest to crest and gap type. You can see more blog entries and other application examples on our technical articles page.