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Custom & Stock High Tension Springs
High tension springs are helical coil extension springs that require a large pulling or tension load at the ends of the spring to extend the spring. High tension springs are sometimes referred to as heavy-duty tension springs. While no precise definition exists for high-tension springs, they are most commonly used in heavy-duty loading applications.
High tension springs generally have larger spring rates than those found in typical extension springs, meaning separating the coils of a high tension spring requires a significant force. They also generally have large wire sizes and small outside diameters and typically have fewer coils.
High tension springs are typically fabricated from a grade of spring steel or chrome silicon steel. Depending on your application's loading profile, stainless steel may be an option if additional corrosion resistance is required.
Custom High Tension Springs
We offer custom design and manufacturing services if you can’t find the exact high-tension spring in the wire diameter and free length your application requires.
Common custom high-tension extension spring options include large wire diameters, high-performance materials, protective surface finishes, and specialized heat treatments.
We are ready to partner with you in all stages of development, from initial concept to procurement, to help you develop high-tension spring solutions engineered to operate reliability in industrial environments.
Don’t waste another minute; reach out to our experts today!
Custom High Tension Spring Manufacturing Capabilities
Our state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment can produce high volumes of custom high tension extension springs. Our cutting-edge CNC compression self-monitoring and coiling machinery allows us to manufacture custom high-tension springs in large wire diameters across various end configurations. Our capabilities also allow us to design and manufacture high tension springs from large wire sizes that meet your required free length and design size envelope.
We also provide complete prototyping and tooling assistance services to help you navigate complex design constraints.
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High Tension Spring Information & Resources
Where High Tension Springs Are Used
High tension springs are used in many machines where large forces are required to actuate equipment or where large impact forces must be absorbed. They are found in certain safety-critical aerospace systems, such as landing gear suspensions and door assemblies. They are also integrated into control surface actuation systems, providing the required tension between linkages so that the aircraft can maintain stable flight. They can also typically be found in industrial machinery, such as agricultural machinery like combine harvesters and tractors.
For more information on application-specific springs and secondary operations, check out our industry pages:
AerospaceConstructionMedicalIndustrial AutomationAgriculture DefenseElectronicsEnergy, Oil, & GasHeavy Truck & Bus
How to Select a High Tension Spring
The high tension spring’s Spring Rate defines the force required to extend the spring by a designated length unit and is the primary parameter that defines high tension springs. It is typically denoted in units of lb/in, meaning the required force to create a spring extension of 1 inch. The spring rate defines the other geometric properties of the high tension spring, such as the Wire Diameter, Outside Diameter (OD), and Length inside Hooks (LIH).
Furthermore, the high tension spring’s initial tension is an important parameter for extension spring selection because it represents the force needed to move a helical coil just enough to observe light passing through the coils.
To select a high tension spring, first evaluate the load your spring will absorb and the space envelope you have in your application to accommodate the spring’s extension. Then, you can shop high tension springs by the spring rate you need to understand the available stock configurations that meet your design requirements. You can determine how the spring will fit within your application using properties such as the spring’s LIH and OD. Finally, you should also check the spring’s rated maximum deflection and load capacity when shopping for high tension springs to ensure your spring will not be overloaded in your application.
Check out our comprehensive extension spring selection guide for more general information on high tension spring selection.
How to Measure a High Tension Spring
You can obtain all relevant high tension spring dimensions by measuring with a pair of calipers at the following locations.
- Outside Diameter (OD): To measure the spring's OD, place the caliper's large outside jaws on the outer surfaces of its helical coils.
- Wire Diameter: To determine the spring's wire diameter, place the caliper's large outside jaws on the wire at one of the spring hook ends.
- Length inside Hooks (LIH): Place the caliper’s inside small jaws on the interior of the hooks on each end of the spring. Take care not to extend the spring when you are taking the measurement. This measurement represents the entire enveloping length of the extension spring when unloaded.
You can also measure the tension in your high-tension spring by following our dedicated guide, Understanding Spring Tension: Definition and How to Measure It.
Explore More Dimensional Measurement Guides
How to Measure Extension SpringsHow to Measure Compression SpringsHow to Measure Torsion Springs
FAQs About High Tension Springs
What is the difference between high tension and regular extension springs?
High-tension extension springs are designed to accommodate larger loads than typical extension springs. They are typically fabricated from high-strength materials and feature small outer diameters and larger wire diameters (e.g., meaning the helical wires are thick and wound tightly together).
Do I need a custom design?
Standard high-tension springs with large wire diameters and spring rates are available in various sizes and specifications. However, if you need a custom-designed spring with a rated load capacity not found in our catalog, call us at 800-237-5225 or fill out our Custom Quotation Form today!
What materials are commonly used for high tension springs?
Common high-tension spring materials include high-carbon steel (such as music wire), oil-tempered steel, chrome silicone, and stainless steel. To determine a suitable material for your high-tension spring, consider your application’s loading requirements, followed by environmental factors such as corrosion and temperature.
What is the maximum load capacity of high tension springs?
Our spring catalog lists every high tension spring's recommended maximum load capacity, including high tension springs. We also provide the recommended maximum deflection. We determine these values based on our rigorous testing and design standards.
Why Choose Century Spring
Our Commitment to Quality and Service
Century Spring is a quality-first, ISO 9001 and AS9100D certified, industry-leading spring supplier specializing in stock and custom springs. We are the most trusted name in spring manufacturing and offer rapid delivery on over 40,000+ in-stock designs available to ship today. We are committed to getting products to you quickly because we understand your design scheduling constraints.
Our dedicated custom spring development and customer support teams help you navigate critical design criteria such as size, material, and surface treatment to find your application's optimal spring solution.
Our experienced product engineers, knowledgeable product quality team, and skilled manufacturing personnel always deliver the highest quality products to you faster than our domestic and international competitors.
All springs are always made in the USA.
Innovation and Customization in Spring Manufacturing
We are ready to partner with you to solve your most pressing spring design challenges. Our experts work closely with our customers to create, refine, and optimize spring designs to fit specific tolerance, performance, and use case conditions.
We bring extensive design for manufacturability (DFM) expertise to your project. We also have dedicated, high-speed machines that can quickly scale high-quality spring production processes to large part volumes.
We also have cutting-edge computational equipment simulation and testing techniques, such as CNC compression self-monitoring and coiling machinery. These capabilities enable us to deliver durable, reliable products across many custom sizes and styles.
Our manufacturing services also include complete prototyping and tooling assistance.
Get In Touch
Contact Information
Contact us directly today, and let our experts resolve all your technical and sales questions. We can also guide you through high-tension spring options for every possible application.
If you need immediate assistance, you can always speak directly with our team on our dedicated customer service line at 800-237-5225.
Request a Quote and Consultation
If you can’t find the high tension spring you’re looking for in our catalog, you can always request a custom quotation and partner with us to design a custom spring specifically for your unique application.
We will follow up with a custom recommendation and resolve any additional follow-up questions you may have.