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Questions tagged [springs]

129 questions
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What are the lightest springs?

I am wondering if there is a spring strong enough and light enough to inflate an airtight membrane so that it floats at Standard Temp & Pressure. As an example, a 10cm cylinder would displace just under 1 gram of air, but a cylindrical spring would…
feetwet
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What is the purpose of dead coils in the middle of a compression spring?

What purpose do dead coils in the middle of a spring serve? For example, this spring from a ballpoint pen has two dead coils at each end and two in the center of the spring. Why add dead coils in the middle? What advantage does this create, or what…
CBRF23
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Common spring materials

I am attempting to determine which material has been used in a spring. I know that the spring is ferrous. However, I would like to know whether the spring would have been heat treated.
jore1
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Why do springs get harder to compress?

I was playing with a spring, and realized that I've never wondered why a spring gets harder and harder to compress the more you try to compress it. It seems easy at first though. What is the scientific explanation behind this?
Kroma
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Difference between a spring's k-value and rate constant?

As everyone learns in physics class, Hooke's law states that a spring's force is proportional to the distance it is stretched/compressed. The constant of proportionality is usually referred to as $k$. I am currently working on a project for which I…
PGmath
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What type of spring is used in this antique receipt holder?

Pictured is an antique McCaskey Register Co Receipt Holder. I have tried to find a modern equivalent, but I have not had much luck. I am considering building my own, is the spring used a readily available component? What should I be looking for?
kcghost
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Repairing blind in bathroom: How do spiral springs with 3 revolving drums work?

I am trying to repair a plissee blind, that does only fold up until half, then stops, no matter how high you push it. It has a metal-thing holding three metal spirals that can be connected to the plastic drum in the middle. The middle plastic drum…
ema
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Calculating pretension of a spring with an initial tension

Simple one. Some extension springs are wound with an initial tension which acts to pull the coils together, even when not under external loading. When calculating the preload in the spring, should the initial tension be added to the spring force…
Petrichor
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Are spring constant and rate constant the same thing?

I am shopping for a spring on McMaster and there is a quantity listed as "rate constant". Is this the same thing as spring constant? If so, what are the units of this value? (lbs/in, lbs/ft, other)?
Alan Bouwman
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Spring-like device with anisotropic k value

Is there a device that acts like a spring (i.e. $F=kx$) but the spring constant, $k$, has different values in compression and tension? For example, if $k_c > k_t$ (where c and t refer to compression and tension), then the spring would quickly…
ericksonla
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Modifying coil spring to alter rate progressively

I want to modify the coil springs in my car to lower it 1" without raising the spring rate, so simply trimming the overall length is not an option. My idea is to remove material from along the top edge the active coils. Obviously, making the rod…
Chris B.
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"Click" mechanism

I have an application in which I need to detect a button press on top of a platform which has a load (0.2kg ~ 0.5kg). The press is executed on the load. Ideally I think what want is a tactile button with a holding force of greater than the load +…
Wesley Lee
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What wire are mechanical keyboard switch compression springs made of?

What specific wire is used for mechanical keyboard switch compression springs? I am trying to create my own mechanical keyboard switch springs, I have tried stainless steel dental wires but it does not retain the spring shape very well.
user42004
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How are tight coiled springs made

Some tight-coiled springs are made so that they are already under tension - how are they manufactured?
MoopyGlue
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Material for suspension that stiffens in higher speeds?

I was hoping there exists a material like hard rubber used in bushings, but has the property to stiffen when exposed to vibration with high frequency. So, my application is something like a small dampening suspension on a system with stiff wheels so…
user1171426
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