Light Compression Springs
Definition: Coil compression springs with light spring rates based on its physical dimensions.
A light compression spring is a spring that might have a small or average wire diameter paired with an outer diameter that corresponds to a spring index no smaller than a 7 to 1 spring index. This means that the coils aren’t wound too tight so it is under less stress.
Springs with an average index will also give you the opportunity to have less coils within the same amount of free length. This means you will have more pitch in between those coils. In the examples to the right you are able to see the difference between spring designs, according to the proportion of their physical dimensions.
One of the springs is under a lot of stress since it has a small index and little coils. This spring will not be able to travel down to solid height and it is also very strong. The next spring has an average index with the same amount of coils as the previous one. The last spring also has an average spring index but has more coils.
The second spring will be stronger than the last spring but having an average index, it is under much less stress than the first spring so it will be able to give you more elasticity. The last spring is a light compression spring in rate while the second spring is a light compression spring in both rate and weight. This is because it has less coils so it requires less wire to be manufactured and less wire equals less weight.
When picking a light compression spring, it is merely a matter of perspective; whether you want a light compression spring in rate or in weight.
There are several benefits in having a light compression spring in rate. In terms of force and stress, a light compression spring will be more elastic thus being able to travel more. Springs with a tighter diameter and with too much pitch in between its coils are bound to be more stressed and springs under more stress have more force. We have provided a compression spring force chart to the right so that you may see how changing your spring’s physical dimensions can make it either lighter or stronger. As shown on the chart, you will get a lighter spring if you increase the outer diameter, decrease the wire diameter, add more coils (less pitch), or take out some of the free length in order to travel less and required less force to do so. On the other hand, for a stiffer spring, you will need to make the outer diameter smaller, increase the wire diameter, take coils out, or add more free length so that you achieve more force through more travel. Again, the stiffness and elasticity of your compression spring depends on the proportion of its physical measurements.
In terms of weight, to begin with, your shipping expenses will be more economical. When it comes to the actual installation and productivity in your device, if you have a sensitive mechanism that must not carry a lot of weight, this spring (depending on its actual size) might be like placing a feather on a balance; it will hardly make a difference. These springs may also be small springs which don’t take up much space and, due to their size, don’t weigh much either.