Spiral Retaining Rings & Wave Springs - Bearing Engineers, Inc.

ENGINEERING SUPPORT
Smalley specializes in the design, development and
production of custom retaining rings and wave/compression
springs. Our design engineers will tailor a design to meet the
exact characteristics necessary for individual function, where
certain criteria must be considered. For decades we’ve been
doing exactly this at Smalley.
Smalley brings along the combined experience of our
engineering staff in designing retaining rings and wave
springs for the most demanding of applications. Our
capabilities extend well beyond the ordinary manufacturer as
we not only design the rings and springs, we design the
machinery they run on. We have in depth knowledge of
mechanical assemblies, machining operations, fitting
components, dynamics and a host of other elements in the
diverse universe of mechanical components. Product
Application Engineers have designed and solved thousands of
tough applications for OEM’s in nearly every industry.
OPTIMIZED DESIGN
Smalley has developed sophisticated software that optimizes
the variables in a given design. It considers both the
dimensions of the product and the cost to produce the ring
or spring. The typical analysis provides a product that
performs to specification but does not over-design
dimensions and/or materials that can raise costs. Because our
No-Tooling-Cost process enables an almost infinite
selection of dimensions, the software considers the
relationships between maximum stress levels, product
configurations & dimensions and pushes the limits in the
choices available for the best design. Based upon the criteria
selected, Smalley engineers work with you to best determine
what design alternatives will work best for a particular
application. By making simple design changes; such as
material thickness, radial wall, number of waves or selecting a
different alloy we can quickly determine the design impact.
This time saving technology allows for correct parts to be
manufactured and ready to test.
TESTING
In-house testing is performed on our products to ensure that
they satisfy our stringent quality standards prior to shipment.
Statistical Process Control, SPC, is performed on a sampling
of parts to verify that critical dimensions are in control.
Smalley has the ability to test various application specific
performance characteristics. An example would be cycle life.
ENGINEERING SUPPORT
Whether it’s exposure to high temperature or a cryogenic
environment, a dynamic / fatigue problem or simply a static
load, we’ve been involved and resolved complex design issues.
Smalley engineers establish the manufacturing processes
needed. This includes primary coiling operations, secondary
operations for special product features such as slots, tabs,
holes, bends, hooks, joints, etc…, plating & finishing,
marking and other characteristics for most any feature
required.
To develop a packaging solution, Smalley engineering has
created standards with which solutions are offered for
consideration. Whether the part is coin-wrapped, bulk
packaged, wire tied, on a tube or individually bagged a
Smalley engineer is involved with all aspects of handling and
shipment.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS
Housing both the manufacturing and office activities under
one roof allows Smalley engineers to be involved in all aspects
of support in the manufacturing process. From concept to
production our engineers work with quality control,
manufacturing, shipping and purchasing to ensure that the
design and production process move efficiently and
effectively.
RE-ENGINEERING
If you are currently considering using Smalley Spiral
Retaining Rings or Wave Springs to replace an existing
product, our engineering department will work with you to
choose the best new design for your application. Send
Smalley a sample of an existing ring or spring, drawings of
the assembly or your design requirements and we will
engineer and provide new solutions for your consideration..
Once an alternative design is presented, engineering will
work with you to obtain exact prototypes or samples of
similar products for evaluation and testing.
Mid-Stream design changes can also be accomplished with
relative ease. It is not uncommon that dimensions need
modification right in the middle of production. Once again,
Smalley products can usually be changed at any point in the
process by making a machine adjustment, without any
tooling changes.
You can count on the flexibility Smalley products offer for all
your applications.
CALL SMALLEY AT 847.719.5900 85
ENGINEERING