Smalley Blog

May 11, 2021	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>>
April 27, 2021	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>>
April 6, 2021	Smalley’s New 2021 Ring and Spring Catalog and Design Guide Goes Digital! Smalley’s New 2021 Ring and Spring Catalog and Design Guide Goes Digital!Print or Interactive Digital Download Available Lake Zurich, IL, April 11, 2021 – Smalley recently launched the 2021 Ring and Spring Catalog and Design Guide, a resource engineers have relied on for decades for retaining ring and compression spring selection. Smalley’s Catalog and Design Guide contains specifications on... Read More>>
March 30, 2021	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... Read More>>
March 16, 2021	Retaining Ring Types and Selection So you completed the first step by learning what a retaining ring is, as well as when and why you should use one. (Not sure? Check out: Retaining Ring Overview) Now you’re searching by using our Part Tool Search. You tried looking up a retaining ring based on the size of your housing or shaft diameter. Here comes the realization that you have many different ring types and options to choose from... Read More>>
February 16, 2021	Smalley Launches New Catalog - An Engineer’s Go-To Guide for Rings and Springs Smalley Launches New Catalog - An Engineer’s Go-To Guide for Rings and SpringsPrint or Interactive Digital Download Available Lake Zurich, IL, February 18, 2021 – Find your next wave spring, retaining ring, and constant section ring in Smalley’s newest Catalog and Design Guide release. As the inventor of the edgewound wave spring with over 100 years of manufacturing excellence, Smalley has... Read More>>
February 8, 2021	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>>
January 22, 2021	Smalley Wins GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award for 8th Consecutive Year Lake Zurich, IL, January 21, 2021 - Smalley was presented the General Motors Supplier Quality Excellence Award for the year 2019, marking the 8th consecutive year to receive this prestigious honor. General Motors works with thousands of suppliers worldwide, but only a small percentage are presented with this award. The Supplier Quality Excellence Award is exclusive to top-performing suppliers... Read More>>
January 4, 2021	How to Control Corrosion: Material Selection for Rings and Springs Welcome back to the Ask the Expert blog. The blog is designed to help educate you on all things retaining rings and wave springs. This week, we talk about what corrosion is and why it’s an important factor to consider when choosing the appropriate material for retaining ring and wave spring design. What is Corrosion and Why Does it Matter for my Application? Corrosion is a naturally occurring... Read More>>
December 31, 2020	#1 Reason for Retaining Ring Failure and How to Overcome It Drills, saws, sanders, and grinders - what do all of these power tools have in common? Retaining rings keep them from falling apart. A retaining ring’s function is to hold components or assemblies in place. For a retaining ring in a power tool, this is no easy feat as it is regularly exposed to high axial and vibrational force. The retaining ring must maintain its integrity, despite the various... Read More>>