5 Common Compression Spring Questions
When looking for compression springs you may find that there are certain terms that you are unsure about, or doubts that arise in your search for the right spring. At CompressionSpring.com we want to help you make this process as simple and smooth as possible. That is why we have compiled and addressed the top 5 questions that we get from customers trying to obtain compression springs.


1. What is spring rate?
A compression spring’s rate is also known as the spring constant, and it is the measurement of your spring’s force. It is defined by the amount of force that it takes to compress your spring one unit (in or mm) of travel.
The rate is important because it defines the strength of your spring and allows you to determine whether the spring will be strong enough for what you need it to accomplish. Even if your spring is traveling less or more than 1 unit of measurement, you can multiply that value by the spring rate to know how much load will be needed to meet that distance. Understanding rate allows you to narrow down your stock compression spring search to find the one that most ideally matches your requirements. It also allows you to design the proper spring with the adequate parameters, should you need to create a custom compression spring.


2. What are double closed ends?
Closed ends on a spring are the closed coils on the ends that have no pitch. When you have double closed ends you have two closed coils without pitch instead of one. These are known as inactive coils because they cannot compress due to the lack of pitch.
These types of ends allow the spring to have better stability when it has a high slenderness ratio and runs the risk of buckling. They are not very common, especially in stock springs, but when it comes to custom compression springs, they can be an option.


3. Can my spring compress all the way?
When customers ask if their spring can compress all the way what they are asking is whether the spring they selected can be pushed down to it solid height or not. Solid height is the height of the springs when compressed to the point where all coils are touching. However, not all springs should compress all the way to solid height. Each spring has an elastic limit known as max. safe travel. This value tells you how far the spring can compress safely, and allows you to determine whether or not it should be compressed to its solid height. For more information on your spring's elastic limit, click on the title.


4. What is the difference between active coils and total coils?
Total coils are all the coils in your spring. Active coils are the open coils that have pitch in between them. The closed coils on the ends of compression springs don’t have any space in between them. Therefore, these closed coils are inactive and must be subtracted from the total coils to know how many active coils the spring has. Active coils are the working coils. For more information on counting coils, click on the title.


5. What material type is better?
The most common material types are Music Wire and Stainless Steel. In order to select the right material type, make sure you consider the environment that the spring will be placed in. Music Wire is less expensive and tougher than Stainless Steel but cannot withstand very humid environments. If the spring will be exposed to moisture, humidity, or water it is important that you use Stainless Steel as the material type. For more information in selecting the right material type, click on the title.