Time to read: 4 min
弹簧在各种机器中无处不在 - 从消费产品到重型工业设备，拆开任何涉及机制的东西，并且很有可能会发现里面的弹簧。弹簧是用于机械能量的储存设备，认为它们类似于电池！最早的弹簧驱动时钟出现在1400年代。快速前进的大约600年，您仍然必须每天为Apple Watch充电，它的速度不如缠绕时钟……但是我离题了。
My personal fascination with springs began with Slinkies and wind-up toys, and countless mechanical pencils were sacrificed to satisfy my curiosity. These days, I appreciate the grown-up applications of springs, especially when I drive over potholes on Highway 101!
Types of springs and their applications
The most common way to classify springs is by how load is applied to them. You’re probably familiar with the following:
Compression spring: designed to operate with a compressive load and found in shock absorbers, spring mattresses, mechanical pencils, and retractable pens.
延伸弹簧：旨在以拉伸负荷运行。一个典型的例子是一个典型的例子，但是在行李尺和车库门机构中也发现了这些例子。
Torsion spring: designed to operate with torque (twisting force); powers every clothespin and mouse trap.
Each of these types can be further characterized. We can look at the relationship between the force applied to a spring and its resulting displacement. Again, there are three classes of springs: linear (or constant rate) springs, variable rate springs, and constant force springs.
Linear springs
Linear springs obey Hooke’s Law (F=k*x), which means that the force needed to extend or compress such a spring by distance x is proportional to the distance, as long as the force doesn’t exceed the elastic limit of the spring. Torsion springs obey an analogous version of Hooke’s Law (F=k*θ, where θ is an angle). In both cases, k is the spring rate, and it stays constant, no matter the spring’s deflection. This is why linear springs are also known as constant rate springs.
Variable rate springs
在其他r hand, a variable rate spring doesn’t have the same spring rate throughout its axial length. You can have a progressive change in the spring rate, or a more abrupt change—see the diagram below.
熟悉的可变速率弹簧是锥形压缩弹簧，最常见于电池盒中。完全压缩的高度可以低至一根电线直径。可变的速率弹簧还具有额外的好处，即横向稳定并且易于屈曲。
Constant force springs
自称为名称，恒定的力弹簧几乎需要相同的力，无论延伸多长时间。恒定力弹簧也称为时钟弹簧。这种类型的弹簧通常是用于平衡应用中的弹簧钢的盘绕丝带，例如调整监视器的高度调整，并且您猜对了。
弹簧的制造
Springs can also be classified by how they’re made. The first spring that comes to most people’s minds is probably a metal coil spring, also known as a helical spring. However, there are many other types. Even an elastic band can be considered a variable rate spring, since it stores mechanical energy.
Coil Springs
Lightweight coil springs are made by forming metal wires on anCNCcoiling machine。多轴CNC控件使您可以创建可变音高和最终条件，只有受想象力限制。从盘绕机上出来的弹簧没有弹簧的特性。它们需要加热到高温（通常为500华氏度或更多），以减轻压力，然后淬火以创建形状记忆。
In contrast, when making heavy duty coil springs, the wire is heated up before coiling. Check out this sweet视频。
扁平弹簧
Flat springs come in all sorts of sizes and shapes: Spring washers, PCB spring contacts, and retainer clips are all examples of flat springs. Essentially sheet metal parts, they can be made by stamping. However, there are coiled flat springs as well, such as clock springs and volute springs. They also need be heat treated for shape memory.
Machined Springs
机械弹簧和弹簧用于具有高强度和精确要求的重型应用。顾名思义，加工了弹簧CNC车床和磨坊。
Molded Springs
塑料或复合弹簧通常在腐蚀性环境（例如食品生产，医疗和海洋应用）中发现。由于蠕变，它们仅应用于间歇性周期。与金属弹簧相比，它们是该空间的相对新移民，并且供应不那么丰富。
Sourcing springs
既然您已经脑袋了所有这些类型的弹簧，那么您可能会渴望尝试一下。线圈弹簧和某些类型的扁平弹簧有很多库存尺寸和材料，您很可能会找到适合您在目录中的应用程序的材料。
Here are some great places to source off-the-shelf springs:
If you find yourself needing a custom spring, come back soon to check out our design guide for springs.
