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Disc Springs and Belleville washers appear at first glance to be flat washers. However, they are conical-shaped discs, which allows them to act as a compression spring. They are designed to absorb compressive forces acting along the central axis of the disc.
It should be noted that disc springs and Belleville Washers are very similar in appearance and are employed in many of the same applications. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are small differences between the two spring specifications. However, for the purpose of this discussion, they will both be referred to as Disc Springs.
Disc springs have a much smaller profile compared to helical coil compression springs. As such, they are used in applications with very limited space envelopes because they can absorb high compressive loads with a small resulting linear displacement, making them a durable option for use in a wide range of applications.
Disc Springs are also versatile because they can be stacked on top of each other—in series or parallel configurations—allowing the designer to optimize the spring's load and deflection profile across many different applications.
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If you can’t find the spring disc spring you need in our expansive catalog, we also offer custom disc spring solutions, including large diameters, custom thicknesses, high-performance materials, and additional surface finishes.
We proudly offer state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment to bring custom solutions to life that can withstand extreme operating conditions. We have cutting-edge CNC compression self-monitoring and coiling machinery to manufacture custom sizes and styles to fit any design envelope. We also provide complete prototyping and tooling assistance services.
Whether you are in the design or procurement phase, we are ready to partner with you today to develop disc spring solutions that can withstand the most demanding environments.
Don’t waste another minute; reach out to our experts today!
You should understand some essential disc spring characteristics before you’re ready to shop. In general, disc springs are cone-shaped discs that elastically deform to a shorter height when subjected to a load along the center axis of the disc.
Generally, a disc spring is defined by key geometric properties such as the Outer Diameter (D), which is the largest circumference of the disc. In contrast, the Inner Diameter (D) is the diameter of the small hole in the center of the disc. This dimension is critical as it dictates the size of the bolt or fastener that can be used with the disc spring. The disc spring Thickness (t) is the thickness of the metal used to form the disc spring. The last critical dimension is the Overhead Height (OH), which is the vertical height of the disc spring measured from the top and bottom surfaces of the spring when it is unloaded. This is the height at which the disc deforms under compressive load.
Stock disc springs may also have additional surface features such as slotted, serrated, or wave geometries.
As detailed previously, disc springs are cone-shaped discs that elastically deform when subjected to a compressive load along their centerline axis of symmetry. They are most commonly employed within high-load compression applications with limited space, where a helical coil compression spring is not feasible. Therefore, ensuring the correct load application is the first step in selecting a disc spring.
When selecting a disc spring to fit your application, you should consider the inner diameter (d) to ensure it is large enough to accommodate the screw or bolt in the assembly. The other critical design factor you should consider is the load-deflection characteristics of disc springs. It’s critical to select a disc spring with a large enough profile to compress without plastically deforming.
One common application for disc springs is within bolted assemblies, so disc springs feature a hole in the middle to accommodate a fastener. In such applications, you should consider a pre-stressed disc spring specifically sized with bolts. These parts are denoted in the catalog with part numbers beginning with “CDS” or “CDM” for standard parts, or “FL,” “SP,” or NDS” for special bolt sizes. The primary function of the disc in this application is to create a constant bolt preload, which is desirable for bolted assemblies.
Lastly, disc springs can be stacked in different configurations, so you may consider stacking to achieve the desired load/deflection profile.
For more information along with a more detailed description of disc spring load-deflection profiles, you can refer to our Disc Spring Selection Guide.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit ring springs.
How to Select a Disc Spring
Furthermore, designers may need to accommodate larger deflections than what would be achievable with a single conical spring. To achieve more favorable deflection and load profiles, designers commonly stack conical springs in either a Parallel, Series, or Parallel-Series configuration, as illustrated in the figure below.
The load-carrying capability of a parallel stack is multiplicative, meaning if you stack six discs in parallel, you gain six times the maximum load-carrying capability. However, the allowable deflection of the discs is still only equal to the permissible deflection of a single disk.
In contrast, disc springs stacked in a series stack configuration gain an allowable deflection equal to the number of discs multiplied by the deflection of one, while the load is equal to the load carried by one disc.
Combination parallel-series configurations can be designed to produce a broader range of load/deflection responses.
In all disc spring stacking configurations, friction should be considered in all load calculations because sliding friction is created at the disc’s adjoining, moving surfaces.
Because of their versatility, disc springs are employed in countless machine designs across numerous industries and product categories. They can be stacked and combined to meet almost any desired force-deflection performance profile.
Disc springs can be found in many automotive equipment, construction machinery, and aerospace applications. They are found across all three industries within vehicle braking systems, shock-absorbing devices, hydraulic assemblies, and gear clutches. In short, they are commonly found in tight assembly applications with high thermal and compressive mechanical loads.
If you know where to look, you will find disc springs hidden in plain sight almost everywhere!
The effective spring rate of a disc spring stack is a function of the orientation of each disk in the stack. If all the disc springs are stacked such that they nest together (i.e., like paper cups), they are said to be stacked in parallel with each other. In such a parallel stack configuration, the effective spring rate is simply the sum of all of the individual spring weather spring rates.
If the spring washers are stacked such that a pair of Outer Diameters are touching a pair of Inner Diameters, the stack is defined as a “series.” In series stacking configurations, the effective spring rate of the stack is lower than the smallest individual spring rate in the stack. This series stackup is usually employed to increase the available deflection of the spring stack within a limited space envelope. In this case, the effective spring rate is calculated as follows:
Disc spring tolerances depend heavily on the exact spring type and geometry. As such, we have performed extensive empirical studies, which we have used to develop tolerance equations for different manufacturing techniques. We have combined these with the best industry standards to create general tolerance ranges for disc springs. However, these calculations can be very involved, as they are integrated into our design and manufacturing automation software.
However, if you contact our design team today, we will gladly walk through these calculations with you to provide general tolerance values for your spring type and geometry!
We will also help you determine if a custom anchor spring solution better suits your needs. All you have to do is Request a Custom Quotation, and we will partner with you to design a spring anchor tailored to your application.
Once we hear from you, our design team will follow up with a quote for a custom solution and be happy to answer any follow-up questions you may have.
If you need immediate assistance, you can always reach us at our dedicated line to speak directly with our team: 800-237-
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