Smalley Blog

October 8, 2018	Application Spotlight: Wave Springs for Bearing Preload What is bearing preload? When assembling individual bearing components, the outer race, inner race, balls, and retainer all work together so that there is a controlled amount of internal clearance between the rings and balls. This radial play is necessary for proper operation, however, in most applications, it is also necessary to help reduce or eliminate the internal clearance to maintain... Read More>>
September 25, 2018	Application Spotlight: ID/OD Locks - Retaining Ring Functionality Spirolox Retaining Rings have many advantages. They are simple and safe to install and remove. They are produced with little to no waste, which makes them an economical choice for stainless steel rings. They are also groove interchangeable with stamped rings, but they have No Ears To Interfere® with assemblies. These features permit them to fit into an internal and external groove simultaneously... Read More>>
September 11, 2018	Ask the Expert – Smalley Load Specifications Welcome to another edition of Ask the Expert, a series in which expert Smalley Engineers answer difficult questions about retaining rings and wave springs. What is the minimum work height of part CM20-L1 if made with carbon steel SAE 1070-1090? What is the load at that height? This specific part was designed to be compressed to a work height of 2.72 mm to achieve a load of 35 +/- 3.5 N. We... Read More>>
August 21, 2018	Designing a Custom Retaining Ring or Wave Spring with Smalley Smalley stocks over 10,000 standard rings and springs for applications in nearly every industry worldwide. We also understand, however, that the uniqueness of some applications may demand something that isn’t readily available from stock. When that occurs, our team of expert engineers is ready and willing to help you design a part that fits your needs. Designing a custom ring or spring with... Read More>>
August 8, 2018	Application Spotlight: Smalley Retaining Rings as a Replacement for Multiple Bolts Bolts are a common fastener used to connect two or more components in an assembly. Although bolts can be used as an inexpensive method of assembly, Smalley Spirolox® Retaining Rings can be used as an alternative in some instances to simplify assembly and potentially save weight and reduce machining costs. As an added benefit, Spirolox Rings provide a more aesthetically pleasing assembly. In the... Read More>>
July 24, 2018	Top 5 Reasons to Use a Crest-to-Crest Wave Spring 1. Reduced Work Height In applications with tight space constraints, Crest-to-Crest® Wave Springs can take up to 50% space than a traditional coil spring. This space saving is made possible with the sinusoidal waves formed in the flat wire. This results in a more compact spring that takes less material to produce and can reduce the overall weight of the spring and assembly. Figure 1. Crest-to-... Read More>>
July 10, 2018	Product Spotlight: Internal Retaining Rings Internal retaining rings act as a removable shoulder within a bore/housing. These internal rings come in a variety of configurations. For applications that require an internal retaining ring, Smalley offers Spirolox® or internal spiral retaining rings, Hoopster® rings, constant section rings, and WaveRings®. This blog post explores the differences between these internal retaining rings and... Read More>>
June 27, 2018	Installation & Removal Advantages of Spirolox Retaining Rings Spirolox® Retaining Rings are specified to literally retain components within a bore or shaft. What sets them apart from other retaining rings on the market is that they are designed with “No Ears to Interfere®,” so there is nothing to get in the way of assemblies. But if there are no “ears” or “lugs,” how are Smalley’s rings installed? Our rings can easily be installed by hand. First separate... Read More>>
June 12, 2018	Can you use a Wave Spring to Replace a Lock Washer? Lock washers also referred to as split washers, are used to prevent nuts and bolts from slipping or turning in applications. The washer applies a light load to minimize the effects of vibration, keeping the nut and bolt tightly in place. Lock washers are typically manufactured from low-cost materials to take up tolerances. When special alloys are needed for corrosive or high-temperature... Read More>>
May 30, 2018	Ask the Expert - Exotic Alloys We’re back with another Ask the Expert blog, where Smalley experts answer difficult questions about designing retaining rings and wave springs. In this post, our engineers answer tough questions about material selection and how to know what exotic alloys are available. What material would you recommend for a sub-sea application? Smalley offers several materials ideal for subsea applications. 316... Read More>>