Knowledge Centre

Spring Testing

Spring Testing

Spring Testing is a measure of the compression or tension force exerted by a spring at a specific deflection or length, or the deflection or length of a spring at a specific force.

Springs can be found virtually everywhere and the reliability of a multitude of products depends critically upon springs, including:

• Aircraft systems
• Automobiles
• Buildings
• Medical devices
• Musical instruments
• Racing cars
• Satellites
• Scientific and engineering instruments
• Switches
• Tools
• Trains

Wherever there are springs and spring-like components, virtually all have to be tested.

Springs exert a specific force at a specific length,  If springs do not perform correctly the results can be anything from quality-critical to safety critical.  Once they have been excercised or 'scragged', springs are often tested many times in a cyclic test procedure and some spring life tests can last for thousands of cycles.

Benefits of Spring Testing

These include:

• Ensuring the integrity and safety of products
• Ensuring the proper functioning of springs and spring activated products
• Establishing and maintaining consistency in manufacture
• Compliance with industry standards

Standards

Every spring has its engineering drawing specifying a force at length(s), or a length at force(s), and usually a spring rate. The only way to ensure correct performance is to test for this on appropriate equipment.  Over the years a number of national and international spring test standards have been developed, such as:

• ASTM A 125-96 Standard Specification for Steel Springs, Helical, Heat-Treated
• BS 1726-1:2002 Cylindrical Helical Springs Made From Round Wire and Bar. Guide to Methods of Specifying, Tolerances and Testing. Compression Springs
• BS 1726-2:2002 Cylindrical Helical Springs Made From Round Wire and Bar. Guide to Methods of Specifying, Tolerances and Testing. Extension Springs
• BS 1726-3:2002 Cylindrical Helical Springs Made From Round Wire and Bar. Guide to Methods of Specifying, Tolerances and Testing. Torsion Springs
• DIN 2192 Flat Springs - Requirements and Testing
• JIS B 2704 Helical Compression and Extension Springs - Requirements for Design, Performance Test Method

To find out more about Mecmesin's range of spring testers see our test solutions section.