Belleville Washers & Disc Springs
Custom and Stock Products
Belleville washers, also called cupped spring washers or Belleville disc springs, have a conical shell and are shaped like a washer but with added height. Their unique shape allows them to support heavy loads with comparatively minor deflections. Belleville washers and disc springs are used in multiple applications and industries. Some examples are valve actuator assemblies, fail safe breaking, and consumer power tools.
Custom Manufacturing
Custom Bellevilles & Disc Springs
For almost 50 years, MW has been a leader in custom precision disc springs, and Belleville washers, having designed and manufactured thousands of custom disc springs for a range of unique applications. Contact us today to request a quote or learn more about the custom manufacturing process.
Belleville Washer and Disc Spring Manufacturing
Put our experience to work for you. If your application needs an engineered solution due to special environmental conditions, tight space requirements, or service life expectations, we are here to help. Together, we will optimize the performance of your system by providing insight into manufacturing methods that minimize your cost.
In addition to custom designs, we offer special packaging of disc springs including stacking, to make your final assembly operation more efficient.
Related Manufacturing Services
We have decades of experience in manufacturing Belleville washers and disc springs and have access to both industry standard and cutting-edge manufacturing technology. Below are a few examples of manufacturing services that you’ll have access to within our facilities.
Finishing Services
From heat-treating and precision cutting to pre-stacking and packaging—we work with your team to provide the finishing and packing services that your products need to perform their best.
- Heat Treatments
- Laser Etching
- Kitting
- Packaging
Quality Materials
We are constantly testing new materials, and as a result we offer superior metallurgical capabilities and quality standard and specialty materials.
- Alloy Steels
- Carbon Steels
- Stainless Steel Alloys
- Tool Steels
About Disc Springs & Belleville Washers
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Overview
A disc spring is sometimes called a “Belleville washer” after the inventor. Disc springs consist primarily of a convex disc supported at the outer periphery by one force and an opposing force on the center of the disc. They are used singly, or in stacks, to achieve a desired load and travel.
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Advantages & Options
The advantage of a disc spring is that it generates high force in a very short spring length and with minimal movement when compressed. All our disc springs are subject to exacting manufacturing and quality control standards. All discs are preset so that they will not significantly relax under load over time. We also offer pre-stressed disc springs specifically sized for use with bolts.
Stacking Belleville Washers & Disc Springs
When to Stack Disc Springs
Belleville washers and other disc spring styles can be used singly or in stacks to achieve a desired load and travel. In general, they function best under conditions requiring a very high load in confined space or short travel. Under these constraints, it is often not practical or even possible to use a coil spring. In disc spring stacks, particularly those with parallel units, friction should be considered. Sliding friction is created at the disc’s adjoining, moving surfaces. As a result, the deflection which occurs when loading a stack of discs will lag as the stack is unloaded (hysteresis). This characteristic may be taken advantage of in shock or oscillatory loaded systems needing damping.
Parallel Stack
If you stack 6 discs in parallel, you gain 6 times the load capacity of a single disc, but your maximum deflection is that of a single disc. For example, using part# CDM-63203, you would achieve a total load of 222 lbs (37×6), an O.H. .078″, but a deflection of .006″.
Series Stack
If you stack 5 discs in a series, you achieve 5 times the deflection of one disc, but the same load as a single disc. For example, using part# CDM-63203, you would achieve a total load of 37 lbs, an O.H. of .089″, and a total deflection of .030″.
Mixed Stacking – Parallel & Series
Belleville washers stacked in series and parallel in combinations can be arranged to produce almost any load-vs.-deflection trend that you need (linear, progressive, regressive, etc.)
Quality Standards & Certifications
At MW, we pride ourselves on creating quality products that meet or exceed industry standards. Not only do our facilities perform rigorous quality assurance testing to your specified ranges, but we also maintain several key certifications to ensure that only the best products are shipped to you.
Disc Springs Tools & Resources
Have Questions?
Talk with our experts today and let us help you figure out the best solution.