Industrial Equipment Supplies 101 - Spring Plungers and Spring Loaded Devices

Springs are an important tooling component forquick installation. Either way, be aware that spring
providing tension and are an all around useful exampleloaded devices are hollow industrial products. They
of industrial equipment supplies. However, those littlehave a significantly lower torque resistance than a
metal coils can be impractical to work with due tosolid body screw or bolt. Exercise caution and refer
their small size, fragility, and tendency to slip out ofto the manufacturer's instructions when applying
the hand when under tension.torque forces. Otherwise, over-tightening a spring
Spring plungers and spring loaded devices solve theseplunger can lead to snapping the casing or deforming
issues by encasing the coils in a threaded body.the component into an unusable shape.
These industrial products are then able to provideThe locking element described above is included in
accurate tension forces in a robust component that ismany spring loaded devices, and this assembly will
easier to install and has a longer service life. Let'scompress against the threads of a tapped hole when
take a look at how these industrial products work,installing. When working with soft metals, like brass,
their installation, and the different materials used tobronze, copper, or aluminum, or soft plastics, be
diversify their application.careful not to damage the tapped hole. The force
Inside Of Spring Plungerscan easily deform soft materials. There are industrial
This class of industrial products uses a threadedequipment supplies with tension coils that do not
housing and plunger assembly to enclose a spring.have a locking mechanism for this type of situation. If
This design protects the coils while adding strengthlocking industrial products are required regardless, the
and stability to the entire piece. The plunger andbest option is to tap a slightly larger hole in order to
housing design allows these industrial equipmentreduce the compression pressure.
supplies to outperform standard components byExamining Materials Of Construction
creating a precise end force with positive andIt is very common to offer most industrial equipment
controlled tension. Gone are the days of a springsupplies in a variety of different materials. Each option
under tension slipping away and being launched acrossfor construction materials can change the properties
the room.and specification of a particular component, allowing
The plunger assembly contains a polymer, usuallyeasier adaptation to different working conditions.
nylon, locking element that holds the plunger in place.Spring plungers are no different.
The coil is attached to one end of the plunger whileSteel and plastic are the two workhorses for these
the other end allows for regulation of the coil motion.industrial products. Carbon steel offers a strong
This setup prevents lateral motion, similar to axialassembly at a reason price. This type of steel is
bearings, in order to prevent damage and poortypically case hardened for additional strength and
operation while simultaneously ensuring reliable linearthen painted or coated to provide better corrosion
motion. During installation and servicing, tool forcesresistance, since carbon steel is highly susceptible to
are applied to the casing rather than a bare coil heldrust in most environments. Stainless steel is also an
under tension.attractive option with superior strength and
Overall, this design surrounding the coil increases theresistance properties in moist or corrosive
serviceable lifetime of this class of industrialenvironments, or high temperatures. Stainless can be
equipment supplies while offering improvedwell worth the extra price.
performance through consistent tension forces.Plastic alternatives are a viable option when looking
Installing And Usingfor a spring plunger that will not deform softer
Thanks to the threaded casing design, installing thesemetals. Copper, copper alloys, and aluminum can easily
products is significantly easier and quicker thandent from the impact of a steel plunger. There are a
working with bare coils. The assembly is easier tonumber of polymer materials available, such as Delrin
handle since bare springs have to be held underand nylon, which offer a strong hold and comparable
tension while being installed. On the other hand, springtension force without creating any impact damage on
plungers can be locked into place.adjoining materials.
Spring loaded devices can even be installed with justIn the end, spring loaded devices offer a reliable,
a hex key wrench or screwdriver, but it is preferablesafe, easy-to-install option for tension bearing
to use a specifically designed spring/ball plungercomponents.
wrench. The right wrench will speed up an already