Wire Springs vs. Flat Springs

A spring is an elastic device that is capable of storing mechanical energy; when a spring is exposed to a force, it deforms while storing mechanical energy at the same time.

Springs are available in a variety of types, two of which include wire springs and flat springs. Though they are both considered energy-storing, elastic devices, these two springs are built differently. To learn more about wire and flat springs, as well as their differences, be sure to read this blog article.

Wire springs, also called mechanical wire springs, are characterized by their coil-like design made of pieces of metal wire which are wound up into the shape of a coil. Wire springs are available in extension or compression springs; extension springs consist of wire springs which lengthen when exposed to a force, whereas compression springs are wire springs that shorten when exposed to a force. These two types are similar in that they are constructed in a coil-like design and are made of metal wire. Aircraft tend to possess wire springs in their landing gear because of their flexibility. When aircraft land, they exert a large amount of force on their wheels, and their landing gear would break without the extensive use of wire springs.

On the other hand, flat springs are characterized by their flat design; they are constructed of metal stock which the majority of flat springs are stamped from. Some flat springs are machined and wound instead, but all flat springs tend to feature a flat design made of metal stock. Just like with wire springs, flat springs are available in many different types, including those that consist of a flat ring with some overlapping which allows them to flex at the same time as storing mechanical energy. Flat springs also consist of a cured or conical piece of flat metal stock and are found in applications including electrical contacts, shims, leaf springs, and disc washers, to name a few.

Wire and flat springs are not the same in terms of their structure and purpose. Wire springs are coil-like metal pieces, while flat springs are metal stock pieces that have been flattened. Additionally, wire springs are able to offer increased travel because they can extend or compress longer distances. Adversely, flat springs tend to support heavier loads without breaking or becoming damaged, and they continue to store mechanical energy under these heavy loads. They are often utilized alongside fasteners to prevent them from loosening due to vibrations. Exposure to these vibrations can cause a bolt or screw to be forced out of the hole they are intended to be in, so flat springs keep bolts and screws in place. In fact, they can even be used like a washer around the screw or bolt.

Those in the market for wire springs or flat springs in their various forms should look no further than ASAP Aerospace Hub, where we are proud to operate with AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accreditation. We subject many of these new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find parts to varying levels of rigorous quality control measures to ensure their reliability. With more than 2 billion products available in our inventory from thousands of manufacturers, you can count on us to find what you are looking for. Our supply chain network spans across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, ensuring that we can expedite shipping times for domestic and international customers in time-sensitive scenarios. Get in contact with one of our representatives at your earliest convenience to learn why our customers continue to count on us for all their part procurement needs.


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