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Micro & Miniature Springs: Custom & Stock Options for Precision Use
Micro (or miniature) springs are typically helical coil springs that feature ultra-compact dimensions, offering precision control over load and displacement in the smallest mechanisms. They are also designed and manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances because they are engineered to function reliably in the most compact applications and assemblies.
While micro terminology is non-quantitative, micro springs generally fit within a specific wire diameter and outer diameter size specification. In general, micro springs are considered to have a wire diameter smaller than 0.015 in. However, the exact definition, depending on who is using it, may differ slightly across different spring types. Micro springs are available in tension, compression (including conical and tapered/barrel), or torsion spring types.
Micro springs of various sizes and materials are integrated into machine components across multiple markets where compact, high-performance, and precise load and displacement control are required. Such applications include safety-critical aerospace components, medical instrumentation, and consumer electronic devices such as cellular phones.
Century Spring is well-equipped to serve such industries by delivering high-quality stock micro springs in wire diameters as small as 0.001 in. Furthermore, we manufacture all our micro springs and miniature wire form products from premium materials using advanced technology and the highest quality control standards, ensuring the reliability of our micro springs and wire form products in the most demanding applications.
Explore Our Micro & Miniature Spring Range
Century Spring is proud to offer a wide selection of stock micro and miniature springs for sale, available in various materials and sizes, for immediate shipment.
You can also use the following table, along with the Outer Diameter (OD) and Wire Diameter (WD), as a reference to differentiate between the definitions of micro and miniature springs across various spring types.
Spring Type | Dim. | Micro Springs |
Compression Springs | OD | 0.036” to 0.100” |
WD | 0.001” to 0.012” | |
Extension Springs | OD | 0.063” to 0.100” |
WD | 0.004” to 0.012” | |
Torsion Springs | OD | 0.078” to 0.150” |
WD | 0.005” to 0.015” |
The best way to shop for stock micro springs is to use our interactive catalog, which is customized for each spring type and allows you to filter by wire diameter sizes. You can also sort by Outer Diameter, Free Length, Pitch, Material, and Maximum Load Capacity to find stock micro spring solutions that fit your application.
You can also download the spring CAD file before purchasing to see how it will fit your application.
Custom Micro Compression Springs
We proudly offer custom micro spring design and manufacturing services if you can’t find the exact spring you need in our expansive catalog. Typical micro compression spring customization options include materials, precision spring rates, end configurations, and surface treatments.
Our team of spring design experts is ready to partner with you today to expedite the development of your custom, precision, micro springs that meet your exact dimensional and load requirements, even at sub-millimeter scales. We can collaborate with you on designs throughout all phases of the development process to create, optimize, and refine springs tailored to meet your stringent performance requirements.
Our quality and inspection department features state-of-the-art micro spring testing equipment, outfitted with precision load cells that can measure small loads, torque, and displacement values commonly seen in micro spring applications.
Don’t waste another minute; Request a Custom Quotation today!
Micro Compression Spring Manufacturing Capabilities
Century Spring combines state-of-the-art manufacturing tools with in-house design expertise to deliver custom solutions engineered to function reliably in compact assemblies and applications where precision performance and dimensional accuracy are driving requirements.
Our Custom Manufacturing Services include extensive design for manufacturability (DFM) expertise and comprehensive prototyping and tooling assistance, enabling our customers to test unique solutions to design challenges quickly.
We are proud to offer cutting-edge computational equipment and advanced simulation and testing techniques, including CNC spring coiling machinery. Such capabilities permit us to manufacture high-quality micro compression springs in wire diameters as small as 0.001 in., as well as compression springs fabricated from exotic materials with variable coil pitches and custom spring rates. Our dedicated, high-speed machines can quickly scale from prototype production to full-volume production.
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Micro & Miniature Spring Information & Resources
Common Micro Compression Spring Applications
Micro springs are ideal for small mechanisms with minimal design spaces that require high precision load and displacement control under small applied load magnitudes. Century Spring’s high-quality, stock, and custom micro springs offer reliable performance to fit a wide range of mechanisms and industries, making us your trusted partner for any application.
For example, our micro compression spring applications span a broad range of industries. For instance, micro springs are used in electronics applications, including mini actuators and battery relays. Micro extension springs are commonly used in various medical devices, such as surgical instrumentation, where they are relied upon to provide precise displacement control.
How to Select a Micro Compression Spring
Micro springs are defined by the same standard-sized helical coil compression geometric properties, such as Free Length, Wire Diameter, Outer diameter (OD), and Spring Rate.
After determining the working compression load that your micro will see in application, you can shop for micro springs using the spring rate to find options that might fit your application. You can use the spring rate to calculate the displacement under your design loads, which will help you determine how the spring will operate under load in your mechanism. This is especially important when shopping for micro springs, as such compact applications require precision motion and force control.
You should also evaluate the surrounding environment in which your spring will operate to determine if corrosive fluids or high temperatures will be present during the operational life of your spring. At this point, you can evaluate spring properties such as material and end type to ensure you have a spring that will perform as intended within a tight design envelope.
This general process will allow you to determine the fit and function of your micro and miniature springs in your application.
FAQs About Micro & Miniature Compression Springs
What qualifies as a miniature or micro spring?
A miniature or micro spring is classified by its exceptionally small size, as well as its intended use in compact mechanical devices that require precision force and displacement control to function correctly. In general, micro springs are commonly manufactured to tight tolerances from wire diameters of 0.015 in. or less.
Are micro springs strong enough for functional applications?
Yes, micro springs are more than strong enough for many functional applications such as surgical instruments, pacemakers, automotive assemblies, and mini actuators.
What are the most common types of micro springs?
Micro springs typically fall within one of the main spring subtypes, which are differentiated by the direction of the load and displacement they are designed to accommodate. These subtypes are extension, compression, and torsion springs.
Can micro springs be customized for tight tolerances or unique assemblies?
Yes, while standard micro springs are readily available in various sizes and specifications. If you believe you require a custom-designed micro spring with a specific tolerance, please contact us at 800-237-5225 or complete our Custom Quotation Form today.
Spring tolerances depend on the type and geometry of the spring. We have performed extensive empirical studies, which we have used to develop tolerance equations for different manufacturing techniques. We have combined such analysis with the best industry standards to create general tolerance ranges for micro springs and have integrated them into our design and manufacturing software. If you Contact our Design Team today, we will gladly highlight general dimensional tolerance values for your spring type and geometry.
What are the advantages of using micro springs in compact or precision devices?
Micro springs are engineered components specifically designed to deliver precision force and motion control within confined spaces. Micro springs are manufactured with advanced technology and high-quality materials, which makes them reliable in the most demanding applications. They are also cost-effective and available with numerous customization options to suit any mechanism.
How can I extend the life of my micro spring?
In general, you can enhance the longevity of your spring by considering these design factors.
- Optimize your Design: To minimize spring stress during deformation, consider using a smaller spring with a large wire diameter, or consider how you can reduce your application's design loads.
- Consider Material and Environmental Protection: Select suitable materials and treatments that are compatible with specific environmental conditions.
- Cyclic Loading: If your application does have significant dynamically oscillating loads, you should check to ensure that the operating frequency is significantly lower than the spring's natural frequency to avoid resonance issues
What material should I choose for my micro spring?
Consider your application's mechanical loads, corrosion resistance, and temperature requirements. If your application experiences high loads or large deformations, consider a high-strength alloy. If corrosion resistance is paramount, consider using a stainless steel spring. Furthermore, a specialty alloy might be required for applications that experience very high temperatures.
Why Choose Century Spring
Our Commitment to Quality and Service
As the most trusted name in spring manufacturing, Century Spring is a quality-first, ISO 9001 and AS9100D certified supplier of spring and wire form products, specializing in both stock and custom springs.
With an established industry presence and a proven track record, our large-scale production facility enables us to maintain a substantial inventory of high-quality stock and custom springs and wire form products.
We also offer prototyping services for custom heat treatments, which can be quickly scaled to full production runs, minimizing total project development time.
Our dedicated custom spring development and customer support teams help you navigate critical design criteria, such as size, material, surface finish, and end type, to find the optimal spring solution for your application.
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. We offer rapid delivery on over 40,000+ stock springs, available to ship today, because we understand your design scheduling constraints.
Our products are always made in the USA.
Innovation and Customization in Spring Manufacturing
Century Spring’s custom design and manufacturing services combine state-of-the-art manufacturing tools with in-house design expertise to create custom spring solutions engineered to withstand any environment and meet the most stringent component tolerances.
Our cutting-edge computational equipment, simulation and testing techniques, including CNC compression self-monitoring and coiling machinery, enable us to deliver durable and reliable wire form products in a wide range of custom sizes and styles. We also have dedicated, high-speed machines that can quickly scale high-quality spring production processes to large part volumes.
Our team will work directly with you to create, refine, and optimize spring designs to fit specific tolerance and performance design requirements. We are ready to partner with you today to deliver both custom and stock micro and miniature springs to your application.
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 both stock and custom micro and miniature spring design options for any spring application.
If you require immediate assistance, you can speak directly with our team on our dedicated customer service line at 800-237-5225.
Request a Quote and Consultation
You can always Request a Custom Quotation to partner with us in designing a custom spring solution if you can’t locate the spring you need within our extensive stock catalog.
We will follow up with a customized quotation and recommendations, and we will be happy to address any additional questions you may have.