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Compression Springs Compression Springs

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Wire Diameter
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Solid Height
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*Required Field
Extension Springs Extension Springs

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Length Inside Hook
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Wire Diameter
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Initial Tension
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Torsion Springs Torsion Springs

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Free Position
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Wire Diameter
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Body Length
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Max. Torque
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Max. Deflection
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Rate
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Leg Length
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Material Type
*Required Field
Conical Springs Conical Springs

Enter you Small Outside Diameter, Large Outside Diameter and Free Length
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Small Outside Diameter
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Large Outside Diameter
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Total Coils
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Solid Height
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Wire Diameter
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Material Type
*Required Field

Leftie Torsion, Extension and Compression Springs

Coil springs are wound in one direction, they can either be right-hand wound or left-hand wound. The direction in which a metal spring is wound can seem like a minor detail and easy to overlook. However, it plays an important role and can actually make a big difference in its performance of the spring within your device or application.

 

When it comes to compression and extension springs the most common and popular direction of wind is right hand. Out of all compression and extension springs manufactured in the spring industry, about 80% are right-hand wound. However, this is not the case for torsion springs. In fact, at Acxess Spring, our torsion spring calculator is automatically set to default for left hand wound torsion springs and it is actually more common for torsion springs to be left wound than right wound.

 

Compression Springs

 

Left handed compression springs are not as common but can be necessary in some cases. One of these cases is when two springs are intertwined inside each other in order to improve force, reduce the solid height and still maintain elasticity. Other cases are when there is a need for a pair of both right-handed and left-handed springs, such is the case in some more modern car model suspensions. Previous car models would use two right-hand wound compression springs until car manufacturers discovered that by adding in a right hand and left-hand compression spring suspension they could create better stability in turns and other more abrasive road conditions.

 

Direction of wind: To determine a coil spring's wind direction you must use the front coil. First, position the front coil so that the tip of the wire is at 12 o'clock. Then, check the direction in which the wire turns to make the first coil. If it goes clockwise, it's a right-hand spring, if it coils counter-clockwise, the spring is left-handed.

 

Helical Spring Direction of WindHelical Spring Direction of Wind

Extension springs

 

Extension springs tend to have hooks that can be a weak point when dealing with great loads. It is because the hooks are the weakest point that they tend to break, despite the extension spring body having the capacity to withstand it. It is because of this that many people choose to use bolts attached to the ends of the extension spring, instead of hooks.

 

In order for the bolts to properly twist into the spring’s inner diameter, the direction of wind must match accordingly. This meaning, that left-handed bolts must be twisted into left-handed springs and vice versa.

 

Direction of wind: Use the front coil to determine the extension spring’s wind direction. Position the front coil so that the tip of the wire is at 12 o’clock. Next, check the direction in which the wire begins to turn to form the first coil. If it goes clockwise, it’s a right hand spring, if it coils counter-clockwise, the spring is left handed

 

Extension Spring BoltsExtension Spring Bolts

Torsion springs

 

Torsion spring applications usually require more precision when it comes to the legs and the direction of wind. Oddly enough though, torsion springs are more commonly left-handed, especially here at Acxess Spring. Our Online Spring Creator calculator which allows you to immediately design and quote custom springs, including torsion springs, actually has the default setting set for left-handed springs. It is only per a customer’s specific request that the torsion spring is designed with a right-hand wind.

 

Direction of wind: To know the direction of wind of a torsion spring, you must know how you will position the front and back legs. Then determine which one of the legs will be deflecting (if not both) and the direction in which you want them to deflect. The back leg of a right-hand wound torsion spring will torque clockwise and the front leg vice versa. When it comes to a left-hand torsion spring, the back leg will travel counterclockwise while the front leg will travel clockwise.

 

Left Hand Wind Torsion Spring

 

Left hand Torsion, Extension and Compression Springs at Acxess Spring

 

Whether you need a right or left-hand compression, extension or torsion spring, you can obtain or create just what you need at Acxesspring.com. Contact us today: (951) 276-2777