Rapid Custom Compression Spring Manufacturing
Compression springs are the most widely used mechanical spring type, and when you need them fast, in small quantities, and built to your exact specification, Quick Spring is who engineers turn to. We specialize in short-run, rapid-turnaround custom compression spring manufacturing for R&D, prototyping, maintenance replacement, and low-volume production.
There's no minimum order quantity, and with tooling and production handled fully in-house, we can manufacture custom compression springs from a single prototype piece to runs of up to large volume on whatever timeline your project needs.
What Is a Compression Spring?
A compression spring is an open-coil helical spring designed to resist compressive force along its axis. When you compress it, it stores mechanical energy and pushes back, returning to its free length once the load is removed. You'll find compression springs in just about every industry, from aerospace actuators and medical devices to consumer electronics and industrial machinery.
They come in a few different profiles: cylindrical (the standard shape), conical (smaller diameter at one end), barrel (largest diameter at the center), and hourglass (smallest diameter at the center). Conical and barrel designs offer a lower solid height and more stability in applications where a standard cylindrical spring might buckle.
Quick Spring Compression Spring Capabilities
Available materials include music wire, stainless steel (302, 316, 17-7 PH), hard drawn and oil-tempered carbon steel, chrome silicon, chrome vanadium, phosphor bronze, brass, and specialty alloys. We also offer secondary operations such as grinding, heat treating, shot peening, spring setting, passivation, electropolishing, and plating.
Industries and Applications
We manufacture compression springs for engineers and buyers across a wide range of industries:
• Aerospace and defense
• Medical devices
• Electronics and consumer products
• Industrial machinery
• Automotive
• Research and development
Key Compression Spring Design Parameters
When you're specifying a custom compression spring, here's what we'll need from you:
• Wire diameter, which determines strength, stiffness, and solid height
• Outside diameter (or inside diameter, if the spring needs to fit over a rod or inside a bore)
• Free length, the unloaded length of the spring
• Spring rate, the force per unit of deflection, measured in lb/in or N/mm
• Number of active coils, which affects rate and deflection range
• End type: closed and ground, closed not ground, or open ends
• Material, selected based on environment, load, temperature, and compliance requirements
• Solid height, the compressed length when all coils are touching, which matters for assembly clearance
Engineering Support Included
Every compression spring order comes with support from our engineering team. Whether you're refining a design, replacing a legacy spring on a deadline, or working through requirements for a new application, our engineers get involved directly. We use proprietary spring design software to check performance before we ever start manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions: Custom Compression Springs
Q: What is the minimum quantity for a custom compression spring order?
A: There isn't one. We manufacture custom compression springs from a single prototype piece up to large order volumes.
Q: What materials are available for custom compression springs?
A: We work in music wire, stainless steel (302, 316, 17-7 PH), hard drawn carbon steel, oil-tempered carbon steel, chrome silicon, chrome vanadium, phosphor bronze, brass, and specialty alloys including Inconel, Hastelloy, and Elgiloy. The right material depends on your load requirements, operating environment, temperature, and any compliance needs.
Q: What is the difference between a compression spring and an extension spring?
A: A compression spring is an open-coil helical spring that resists compressive force. It pushes back when squeezed. An extension spring is a closely-wound coil spring that resists tensile force. It pulls back when stretched. Compression springs are open-coil with flat or ground ends, while extension springs are closed-coil with hooks or loops at each end.
Q: Can Quick Spring manufacture compression springs to an existing drawing?
A: Yes. Send us your drawing, CAD file, sketch, or even a sample spring along with your quote request. Our engineers review everything that comes in and will get back to you with questions or a quote.
Q: Does Quick Spring offer RoHS-compliant compression springs?
A: Yes. We manufacture compression springs using RoHS and REACH compliant materials for electronics and consumer product applications. Just let us know your compliance requirements when you request a quote.
Q: What end types are available for compression springs?
A: We make compression springs with closed and ground ends, closed not ground ends, and open ends. Closed and ground ends give you a flat bearing surface and are standard for precision applications. Open ends work fine where end flatness isn't critical.