Manufactured from high-quality materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and alloy steel, a spring washer is engineered for durability, resilience, and consistent performance. Whether used in standard industrial equipment or heavy-duty machinery, a well-produced spring washer plays a key role in preventing fastener loosening and extending the service life of assembled parts.

Why Use Spring Washers

In bolted connections, maintaining stable preload is critical to structural reliability. During operation, vibration, shock, temperature changes, and material creep can reduce a bolt’s axial force, causing loosening or increased clearance. A spring washer counteracts this by providing continuous elastic clamping force that compensates for preload loss and keeps the joint stable.

Its long-lasting elasticity absorbs micro-movements and vibration, lowering the risk of thread loosening. When made with suitable materials and hardness levels, spring washers also offer strong fatigue resistance, helping bolted joints perform reliably under repeated or dynamic loads.

In summary, the main purposes of using spring washers include:

• Maintaining continuous preload and preventing bolt loosening

• Resisting vibration and impact to stabilize the connection

• Compensating for preload reduction caused by thermal expansion, contraction, or material creep

• Increasing the overall service life of the assembly

• Reducing wear and preventing direct friction between the bolt head and the workpiece

These advantages make spring washers an essential component in industries such as machinery, automotive, rail transit, and power equipment.

How Different Types of Spring Washers Work

Spring washers provide clamping force through specific elastic deformation, but each type features different geometry and locking characteristics. Below is a technical overview of the main categories.

Spring Washer Types – Comparison Table