Smalley Blog

March 23, 2020	How We Package our Wave Springs and Retaining Rings I’ve found the perfect retaining ring or wave spring, but how do I get it here? The logistics of shipping and packaging can be a headache when you’re working with components of all sorts of shapes, sizes and quantities. To help simplify the process we’ve highlighted some of the key ways that Smalley can get you the parts you need quickly and efficiently. Bulk Polybag This is the most common... Read More>>
March 9, 2020	Smalley’s Finishes for Retaining Rings and Wave Springs Whether you need added corrosion resistance or simply want to change the appearance of your part, Smalley has a wide range of finishing processes to ensure that your retaining rings and springs perform the way it needs to in your application. Below is a list of some of the more common choices Smalley has available. Oil Dip is a standard finish for all of Smalley’s products produced in carbon... Read More>>
February 20, 2020	Wave Spring Compression and Work Height What happens if I compress my wave spring below work height? Understanding how and when a wave spring can fail is important for achieving optimal performance in the application. One common reason a wave spring could fail is due to overstressing, otherwise known as over-compression of the spring. How do you overstress a wave spring? Compressing a wave spring below the design work height may... Read More>>
February 3, 2020	How and Why You Should Use a Wave Spring for Bearing Preload You wouldn’t drive without a seatbelt, so why would you preload a bearing without a Smalley single-turn wave spring? Let’s back up to the basics of bearing preload. What do we mean when we say “preload”? A bearing is designed to move freely and has multiple moving parts that work together as one unit. Tolerance stack up from both manufacturing and assembly can quickly cause issues. This is where... Read More>>
January 27, 2020	Wave Spring vs. Coil Spring What's the difference between a wave spring and a coil spring? Custom or standard, Smalley takes great pride in its unparalleled dedication to delivering quality wave spring solutions for a variety of industries. Both wave springs and traditional coil springs fall under the category of compression springs. While the primary function is to provide axial load, wave springs have a few key... Read More>>
January 14, 2020	Top 6 Advantages of a Wave Spring Wave washers, coil springs, disc springs, the list goes on – these are all traditional springs that work well in many engineering applications. However, adding a wave spring to your design toolkit can open up a world of new and innovative possibilities. Knowing when to use a wave spring and understanding the value it brings can take your designs to the next level. So when should you use a wave... Read More>>
January 10, 2020	Wave Spring Guide: A Brief Overview While finding the best possible design solution can be challenging, knowing what options are available can make it easier for you. One option Smalley provides is a wave spring. A wave spring, a type of compression spring, is a solution that optimizes space concerns while providing form, fit, and function. So what is a wave spring? Let’s start by defining what a spring is. Most people have used... Read More>>
December 16, 2019	Smalley's CAD Library Smalley leads the way in designing and manufacturing retaining rings and wave springs. We know how important it is to visualize your design, so we offer CAD models for our entire product line. All of our standard parts are available for immediate download from our interactive, parametrically drawn CAD library. If you're looking at a custom design, you can always request a custom CAD model when... Read More>>
December 3, 2019	Top 6 Overlooked Benefits of a Custom-Engineered Design Could switching to a custom save you money? Picture this – you’re looking at our retaining ring selection guide to find a ring suitable for your application. You locate a ring series that looks promising. You flip through the catalog in search of the standard part, only to discover that the required dimensions don’t quite line up. At this point, should you redesign your assembly to accommodate... Read More>>
November 20, 2019	Smalley Wins GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award for 7th Consecutive Year 4,000+ GM suppliers worldwide 432 Recipients of the Supplier Quality Excellence Award 13 Specific quality requirements showing above standard performance 0 Defects in parts and components 1 Smalley Lake Zurich, IL, November 13, 2019 - Smalley was presented the General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award for the year 2018. This marks the 7th consecutive year that Smalley has received this... Read More>>