Metal Spring FAQs … Answered.
Q: What materials do you use to manufacture springs?
A: We use the best metal for your project. Whenever possible, we source raw materials that are made in America. We form standard springs and specialty springs made from stainless steel, copper wire, galvanized wire, Inconel, steel alloys, and more.
Q: What are your wire sizes?
A: We can accommodate just about any spring size, any material, and every shape — from fine wire springs (.008”) to heavy-duty springs (up to .625”), music wire to Inconel X-750.
Q: What’s music wire?
A: Although Tennessee Spring and Metal is headquartered just outside of Music City (that’s Nashville, y’all), music wire isn’t what you string your guitar with. It’s a high-carbon steel alloy that’s cold drawn and offers uniform tensile strength. It’s great for high-stress applications that require a super durable spring.
Q: What is tensile strength?
A: Tensile strength refers to the maximum amount of load (stress) that a material (in our material world, we’re talking about metal) can handle until it fails.
Q: What’s a compression spring?
A: It’s the quintessential spring that pushes back. Check out our blog to learn more about the different types of compression springs we manufacture.
Q: What’s an extension spring?
A: An extension spring is the spring that sports hooks, eyes and loops that attach to a connecting part. It’s the spring that pulls everything together.
Q: What’s a torsion spring?
A: A torsion spring works by doing the twist! Torsion springs are flexible springs that twist along the axis. Learn more about metal torsion spring manufacturing here
Q: What are wire forms?
A: Whatever you need them to be! Wireforms are custom wire shapes that bend in different directions. Think hooks, clips, pins, and clamps. Clear as mud? Learn more about wire form manufacturing.
Q: What is the difference between standard utility springs and precision, custom springs?
A: Custom springs are made to specific load and dimensional tolerances and may be coated for additional performance benefits. Utility springs are better suited for low-cycle applications.
Q: Why did my springs break?
A: Although we’re committed to using the best materials available, even our springs may, indeed, fail from time to time. Some common reasons springs (or humans, for that matter) may snap include excessive stress, excessive cycling, exceeding recommended temperature limits, and exposure to corrosive elements.
Q: What is spring rate?
A: Also known as spring constant, the spring rate is the amount of weight needed to compress a spring by one inch. It’s typically expressed in pounds per inch or Newtons per millimeter.
Q: How far can an extension spring extend?
A: Well, it depends. All springs are different and extension capabilities change depending on the material, coating, number of active coils, the ratio of outside diameter to the wire diameter, and more.
Q: How far can I safely compress a compression spring?
A: See above.
Have a pressing spring question? Let us know! To learn more about our custom springs or spring coating options, contact Tennessee Spring and Metal online or call us at 1-800-497-3545.
Tennessee Spring and Metal is AS9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015 certified.