All-In-One Spring Design and Verification with the Online Spring Force Tester

 The extension spring OSFT offered by Instant Spring Quote allows engineers to precisely measure and analyze the potential energy characteristics of their custom tension springs. With a user-friendly interface, this online tester provides accurate tension readings as if you had the spring in front of you, thus enabling engineers to fine-tune their designs for optimal performance. By inputting the required parameters, you can quickly obtain working load measurements, ensuring the springs meet the desired load at extended length.

In addition to tension testing, the Online Spring Force Tester empowers engineers with the ability to perform precise spring compression tests. With a wide range of compatible spring sizes, the tester ensures comprehensive coverage for various applications. Whether your compression spring is a heavy duty or a tiny precision spring, you can be sure you can easily input the desired compression parameters relating to either load or displacement and obtain accurate working load results based on the spring’s constant. This has been crucial in aiding in the optimization of spring designs for many applications.

The torsion tester module of the Online Spring Force Tester enables engineers to evaluate the torsional characteristics of springs accurately. By subjecting the 3D representation of your torsional spring to a specific amount of torque, you are able to see how the spring’s leg will travel the accurate distance traveled in degrees. Engineers can assess their performance and behavior under different loads. This data is invaluable for optimizing spring designs and ensuring their reliability in real-world applications.

For compression springs, for example, you must select an end type. Direction of wind is right hand by default, but feel free to change it if you require it to be left-handed. Lastly, select the material type that best suits your application, and click on “Get Quote”. 

For extension springs, for example, you must select an hook type. Make sure to distinguish the difference between machine hooks and cross-over center hooks. Then, select the material type that best suits your mechanism’s purpose, and click on “Get Quote”. 

For torsion springs, rather than selecting an option, you must enter the lengths of the spring’s legs. Direction of wind is particularly important, too. This will determine which of the legs of the spring will deflect upon installation. Therefore, verify the design ASAP by clicking on “Get Quote”. 

Click over to the “Online Spring Force Tester” tab of the ISQ. Once you are there, the first thing you will see is a live 3D model of your spring in motion of its potential energy according to Hooke’s Law. It will begin at its free, unloaded length/position, and begin gradually deflecting until it reaches the maximum safe deflection and maximum safe load. First and foremost, you want to verify that the load and deflection you are expecting from your spring are below its maximum capacity. Therefore, pay attention to the Max. Safe Load, and Max. Safe Travel (Deflection).

In the case of compression springs, if you are expecting to compress your spring down to its solid height, you need to take the solid height indicator into account and compare it to the loaded height to which your spring is compressing to at Max. Safe Travel. If these values are aligned at the same height, then your spring can safely deflect to solid height. Otherwise, a notice will appear at the bottom of the Online Spring Force Tester warning you that “This Spring Cannot Travel (of Deflect) to Solid Height”.

Your spring’s constant will also be displayed for your reference, but what makes the Online Spring Force Tester so amazing is the fact that you can verify whether or not it will meet your working loads requirements. It is not enough for a spring’s Max. Safe Load and Max. Safe Travel to be sufficient. The load applied will make the spring deflect in proportion to the spring constant. To ensure your spring’s constant is correct and that the spring will indeed deflect the desired distance under the required force, enter either value into the fields provided at the right of the OSFT. By entering one value (load or travel) the other will be calculated automatically and the visual representation of your spring’s deflection will also portray it.

Other tips and tricks:

If you realize your working loads are not working (pun intended), you can scroll back up to edit your spring’s dimensions. If it’s too strong, you might consider increasing the outer diameter, decreasing the wire diameter, or increasing the number of coils. If it is not strong enough, you do the opposite: decrease the outer diameter, increase the wire diameter, or decrease the number of coils. Upon each dimension adjustment, you can click on “Get Quote” and the OSFT will automatically reflect the changes you made. It really doesn’t get any easier than that!