What is spring rate?
Spring rate expresses the change in force needed to compress or extend a spring by a unit distance, usually given in N/mm. Wire diameter, mean spring diameter, number of active coils and material properties all affect spring rate.
What is spring index?
Spring index is the ratio of the mean coil diameter to the wire diameter. It affects manufacturability, stress distribution and spring behaviour.
What is solid height in a compression spring?
Solid height is the minimum spring length at which the coils are in contact and no further compression is possible. For reliable operation, a spring is not normally compressed all the way to its solid height.
What is initial tension in an extension spring?
Initial tension is the first force that must be overcome before an extension spring starts to elongate. Coil structure and the production process affect this value.
How does a torsion spring work?
A torsion spring generates moment against rotational movement. Wire diameter, spring diameter, arm length and working angle are the key parameters that determine the spring’s behaviour.
How is spring material selected?
Maktel selects spring material by evaluating strength together with cycle life, working temperature, corrosion conditions, formability and surface-treatment requirements.
When is Cr-Si spring wire used?
Cr-Si alloyed spring wire is preferred for dynamic applications requiring high strength and fatigue resistance, and can offer an advantage in high-cycle automotive and defence industry systems.
When is stainless spring wire preferred?
Stainless spring wire is preferred for applications where corrosion resistance matters, such as humid or chemical environments.
What does shot peening do for springs?
Shot peening creates controlled compressive stresses at the spring surface, helping delay crack initiation and improve fatigue resistance. Maktel applies this process in-house to suitable products.
Why is grinding spring ends important?
Ground ends help compression springs in particular seat evenly on a surface, supporting force transfer and installation stability.
What factors determine spring life?
Spring life is determined together by material, stress level, working range, number of cycles, surface quality, corrosion, temperature and installation conditions.
Why does fatigue occur in springs?
Under repeated loading, micro-cracks that start at the wire surface can progress over time. High stress, surface defects and unsuitable working conditions can increase fatigue risk.
Why does a spring take a permanent set?
Exceeding the material’s elastic limit, over-compression, high temperature or an unsuitable design can cause permanent deformation.
How is spring force measured?
The spring is compressed or extended to a specific working length, and the force at that point is measured with precision equipment. Maktel checks force at defined working points such as F1/F2, per product requirement.
Does Maktel produce prototype springs?
Yes. Maktel produces prototypes and first articles based on technical drawings, samples or working information. The product is transferred to series production after approval.
Can a spring be produced without a technical drawing?
Yes. Maktel can carry out technical assessment and reverse engineering based on an existing sample or working conditions.
What information is needed to order a spring?
The information required depends on the spring type. Typically shared details include wire diameter, spring diameter, free length, force values, working travel, material, number of cycles, surface treatment and a technical drawing.
What springs does Maktel produce?
Maktel produces compression, extension, torsion, wire-form, flat, defence industry and multi-wire springs, as well as custom springs and precision metal parts.
What is Maktel’s wire diameter range in spring production?
Maktel produces compression, extension, torsion, wire-form and defence industry springs in the 0.20–9.00 mm wire diameter range.
Does Maktel provide engineering support?
Yes. Maktel provides engineering support in material selection, spring geometry, manufacturability, prototyping, testing, optimisation and series production.
Are Maktel’s products traceable?
Maktel’s ERP/MRP infrastructure, together with QR and barcode-based systems, supports the systematic tracking of product and production information.
What quality systems does Maktel use?
Maktel uses the IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 quality systems together with APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, IMDS, 8D and VDA 6.3 methods.
Does Maktel produce low-volume custom springs?
Yes. Maktel responds to prototype, low-volume custom production and high-volume series production needs.
Can a custom-designed spring be produced?
Yes. Maktel produces custom-geometry springs and wire-form parts based on a customer’s technical drawing, sample or application information.
Why do surface treatments matter in spring production?
Surface treatments matter for corrosion resistance, friction behaviour, fatigue performance and visual requirements. The process is selected according to the product’s working conditions.
How do I start a technical project with Maktel?
Share your technical drawing, 3D model, sample or working conditions with Maktel. Maktel’s engineering team evaluates the project for manufacturability, material and process.