January 2021

Below is the summary of the basics about Spring design of Compression springs , Tension springs and Leg springs . Technical springs are still one of the most important machine elements today and are used successfully in vehicles, precision mechanical or electrotechnical devices, medical devices, household appliances and much more. The function of the entire device or machine part often depends on the trouble-free operation of the metal spring. Metal springs are elements that deliberately deform under load and return to their original shape when the load is removed. The energy supplied is in Spring work (W) converted and released again at a later point in time (energy store). However, the metal springs only reliably perform this deformation and energy absorption within the limits designed for this purpose. Therefore is the right one Spring design and Spring calculation an important component for the perfectly working metal spring. The spring characteristic Metal springs or technical springs are made according to your Spring characteristic judged. This spring characteristic represents the dependence of the Spring force (F) represents the spring travel (s). Because depending on which spring characteristic is required (linear, progressive, degressive or combined), the shape and type of the spring also change. With the Spring rate (R) the spring characteristic is determined in the spring diagram. The spring rate (R) is therefore an important value when designing the spring for the right spring. At linear spring characteristic the spring rate is constant. Springs with a curved spring characteristic have a variable spring rate. The following formulas therefore apply to a linear characteristic: for compression and tension springs for leg and torsion springs The spring work When the metal spring is tensioned, work is done, which is then released again when the tension is released. The spring work (W) always results as the area below the spring characteristic. With a linear spring characteristic, the following applies: for compression and tension springs for torsion springs By calculating the volume utility value, different types of springs can be determined using the ratio of spring work (W) and installation space (V) compare with each other: The hysteresis The suspension behavior can be influenced by external friction. These frictional forces hinder the spring's recovery. In the case of alternating loads, this is expressed in the form of a Hysteresis loop . Part of the spring work is converted into heat by the friction and is then "lost". Since this is undesirable when using springs, any friction should be designed by arrangement and Shape of feathers be avoided. The relaxation For example, if a compression spring is used higher temperature is compressed to a certain length between parallel plates, one can determine that the Spring force gradually decreases over time. This loss of strength increases with increasing temperature and tension. Relaxation of the material is a plastic deformation that manifests itself as a loss of force with a constant installation length. This is given as a percentage of the output force F1: The following diagram shows the basic course of the relaxation and the relaxation speed: The relaxation values after 48 hours are considered to be characteristic values, although the relaxation is not yet completely complete at this point in time. Material-dependent relaxation diagrams can be found in EN 13906-1. These are only to be included by the designer if high demands are placed on the constancy of the spring force. The relaxation at different temperature states is used in the calculation in Spring calculation program WinFSB from Gutekunst Federn, available at www.federnshop.com , shown with. The right choice of material Metal springs must come from a suitable material manufactured and designed and designed so that they regain their original shape after removal of an applied load. This property is expressed in the modulus of elasticity and in the sliding module. These Material parameters express the relationship between tension and elongation and should have as high a value as possible. In addition, spring materials should: high elasticity limits, i.e. a large, purely elastic range, the corresponding tensions also at elevated temperatures endure without major loss of strength (low relaxation), have a high fatigue strength (fine-grain structure, free of impurities), have sufficient deformability, have a surface that is as slippery as possible, withstand certain requirements for corrosion protection, be electrically conductive or non-magnetic. Modules of elasticity and sliding of various materials material Modulus of elasticity [N/mm²] G module [N/mm²] Patented drawn spring steel wire according to EN 10270-1 206000 81500 Oil tempered valve spring wire according to EN 10270-2 206000 81500 Hot rolled steel according to EN10089 206000 78500 Cold rolled strip according to EN 10132 206000 78500 X10 CrNi 18 8 (1.4310) 185000 70000 X7 CrNiAl 17 7 (1.4568) 195000 73000 X5 CrNiMo 17-12-2 (1.4401) 180000 68000 CuSn6 R950 according to EN 12166 115000 42000 CuZn36 R700 according to EN 12166 110000 39000 CuBe2 according to EN 12166 120000 47000 CuNi18Zn20 according to EN 12166 135000 45000 CuCo2Be according to EN 12166 130000 48000 Inconel X750 213000 76000 Nimonic 90 213000 83000 Hastelloy C4 210000 76000 Titanium alloy TiAl6V4 104000 39000 Influence of the working temperature when selecting the material Behavior at elevated working temperatures The level of the working temperature can significantly influence the function of a spring, as the tendency to relaxation increases with increasing temperature. After evaluating the relaxation diagrams, the following limit temperatures can be set for the most important spring materials. Limit temperatures of spring materials with minimal relaxation material Maximum working temperature in ° C at high load low load Patented drawn spring steel wire according to EN 10270-1 60-80 80-150 Oil tempered valve spring wire according to EN 10270-2 80-160 120-160 X10CrNi 18.8 (1.4310) 160 250 X7CrNiAl 17.7 (1.4568) 200 350 X5CrNiMo 17-12-2 (1.4401) 160 300 CuSn6 80 100 CuZn36 40 60 CuBe2 80 120 CuNi18Zn20 80 120 Inconel X750 475 550 Nimonic90 500 500 In addition, take the important for the spring function Material properties modulus of elasticity and shear modulus decreases with increasing temperature. Both the shear modulus and the modulus of elasticity are determined at higher temperatures using the following formula, with the material parameters at room temperature (20 ° C) serving as the basis. or. This enables the designer to determine the actual spring forces at the expected operating temperature. Behavior at low operating temperatures When used in cooling systems, in space or when it is very cold in winter, temperatures as low as - 200 ° have to be endured. Despite rising tensile strenght low temperatures have an unfavorable effect, as the toughness of the materials decreases and brittle fractures can occur. Stainless spring steels as well as copper and nickel alloys are preferable to the patented spring wires and valve spring wires when used at low temperatures. The following table shows the limit temperatures. Recommendations for use at low temperatures material Minimum working temperature in ° C Patented drawn spring steel wire according to EN 10270-1 -60 Oil tempered valve spring wire according to EN 10270-2 -60 X10CrNi 18.8 (1.4310) -200 X7CrNiAl 17.7 (1.4568) -200 X5CrNiMo 17-12-2 (1.4401) -200 CuSn6 -200 CuZn36 -200 CuBe2 -200 CuNi18Zn20 -200 Inconel X750 -100 Nimonic90 -100 Use of spring systems For structural reasons, it is also possible to use several springs to absorb forces and movements. Simple Spring systems are Parallel - and Series connections . a) Parallel connection The springs are arranged in such a way that the external load (F) is proportionally divided between the individual springs, but the travel of the individual springs is the same. So it results: (Total suspension travel) (Total spring force) (Total spring rate) The spring rate of the overall system of a parallel connection is always greater than the spring rate of the individual springs b) Series connection The springs are arranged one behind the other, so that the same force acts on each spring, but the spring travel is divided between the individual springs. It results: (Total suspension travel) (Total spring force) (Total spring rate) The spring rate of the overall system of a series connection is always smaller than the spring rate of the individual springs c) Mixed circuit Several springs are connected in parallel and one behind the other. Because of the equilibrium, R1 = R2 and R3 = R4 must be. In the case shown, the following applies: (Total spring rate) The spring rate of the overall system of the mixing circuit shown lies between the smallest and largest spring rate of the individual springs! In the second part of the information series " Design of metal springs - Part 2 "Calculation "we provide you with the calculation parameters for the Function and strength verification the Compression springs , Tension springs and Leg springs in front. Should you need one individual spring design just email us the key data for the metal spring you need technik@gutekunst-co.com , contact our technology department by phone at (+49) 035 877 227-11 or use at www.federnshop.com the Gutekunst spring calculation program WinFSB for free calculation of compression springs, tension springs and torsion springs. For more information: Compression spring design (video) Extension springs design (video) Design of metal springs - Part 2 "Calculation" Dimension data for spring design Spring calculation program WinFSB 8 Spring steel wires and their properties

Month: January 2021

Design of metal springs – Part 2 “Calculation

Design of metal springs – Part 1 “Basics”