Wave Springs
Wave springs that fit
where a coil will not.
Springs formed with waves so a defined load fits in a much shorter axial stack than a helical coil — made to your drawing in Rayong, Thailand. Round wire from 0.08 mm to 8.0 mm; flat-wire sections are reviewed at RFQ.
The same load in less axial height
A wave spring replaces the tall helix of a coil with a short, undulating ring. The waves act as the active length, so a given load can be carried in a fraction of the stack height — useful when a bearing, seal or connector has almost no room left.
We wind or form the wave pattern to the drawing, then heat-treat and check the free height, solid height and load at the working height. Wire is checked for tensile strength and metallographic structure before production.
- Round wire from 0.08 mm to 8.0 mm in current production
- Single-turn and multi-turn wave forms
- Number of waves and wave height set by the drawing
- Prototype, pre-production and volume orders
Where a short spring does the work
Wave springs appear wherever axial space is scarce but a controlled load is still needed: preloading a bearing, energising a seal, keeping a connector seated or taking up tolerance in a stacked assembly.
Wave spring specifications
Current production is shown below. Wave geometry and flat-wire sections are reviewed against the drawing at RFQ.
| Parameter | Capability |
|---|---|
| Wire diameter | 0.08–8.0 mm in current production. Planned expansion to 12.0 mm as new equipment is installed. |
| Flat-wire section | Reviewed against the drawing at RFQ; section, edge condition and forming route are confirmed before quoting. |
| Materials | 65Mn, 72A, 82B, 60Si2Mn; stainless steel 301, 302, 304 and 316. Other grades reviewed on request. |
| Wave configuration | Single-turn or multi-turn; number of waves and wave height as specified. |
| Height control | Free height, solid height and working height checked against the drawing. |
| Heat treatment | In-house stress relief and tempering. |
| Surface finish | Anti-rust oil, electrophoresis (E-coat), zinc plating, nickel plating, spray coating. |
| Wire tolerance | JIS wire tolerance by grade (JIS G 3521, JIS G 3522 or JIS G 4309). ASTM wire specification and SMI commercial tolerances available for US programs. |
| Load testing | Load at working height, free height or solid height, as specified on the drawing. |
| Dimensional inspection | 2.5D vision measurement and dimensional checks against the drawing. |
| Quality system | ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. |
| Samples | Prototype and pre-production samples against drawing. |
Wire diameter is inspected to the JIS tolerance of the ordered wire grade. For US programs, we can quote and inspect to the relevant ASTM wire specification and SMI commercial tolerances.
Materials and finishes
Wave springs are usually thin-section parts, so the wire grade and finish carry most of the fatigue and corrosion margin.
65Mn · 72A · 82B · 60Si2Mn
Selected for strength and fatigue performance where the load cycle is demanding and a plated finish is acceptable.
301 · 302 · 304 · 316
Used where the spring sees moisture, cleaning or a corrosive environment, subject to the wire diameter and load requirement.
Oil · E-coat · zinc · nickel · spray
Anti-rust oil, electrophoresis, zinc plating, nickel plating and spray coating are available. Thin sections are finished so that coating thickness does not change the working height.
Height, load and geometry, measured
The working height of a wave spring is small, so the inspection has to be precise. Load, height and material condition are measured in-house before shipment.
- Raw material tensile strength and metallographic structure
- Load and compression testing at the working height
- 2.5D vision measurement of wave form and diameter
- Salt spray testing for plated and coated parts
- Fatigue testing for cycle-life validation
- Inspection records agreed at RFQ
What to send with your drawing
Wave springs are defined by height as much as by load. A complete drawing removes the ambiguity.
- Outside and inside diameter
- Free height, working height and solid height
- Load at working height
- Wire diameter and material grade
- Number of waves and turns
- Surface finish and annual quantity
PDF, DXF, STEP or a clear photo
Email your drawing to info@aofengspringthailand.com. We confirm the wire range, wave form, material and test plan before quoting.
Wave spring questions
When should I use a wave spring instead of a coil spring?
Use a wave spring when the axial space is limited and a defined load has to be carried in a short stack height. If the application has room for a taller spring and needs a long travel, a compression spring is usually the simpler choice.
Do you make flat-wire wave springs?
Flat-wire sections are reviewed against the drawing at RFQ. Round-wire wave forms are produced within our 0.08–8.0 mm wire range; availability for a specific section is confirmed before quoting.
How is the load verified?
The finished spring is load-tested at the working height stated on the drawing, and its wave form and diameter are checked with a 2.5D vision system.
Can you supply samples before production?
Yes. We produce prototype and pre-production samples against the drawing, then validate the part before volume production.
Send a drawing, get a quote
Tell us the height you have, the load you need and the environment. We will confirm the wire, wave form and test plan before quoting.
AOFENG SPRING (THAILAND) · Rayong, Thailand