Wave washers or wave springs are wavy metal washers designed to provide a compensating spring force and sustain a load or absorb shock.  Wave washers are commonly called spring washers.  Spring washers are disks of metal that are formed in an irregular shape so that when the washer is loaded it deflects, acts like a spring, and provides a preload between two surfaces.  Washers are disks of metal or non-metallic material placed beneath a nut, an axle bearing, or a joint, to relieve friction, prevents leakage, isolate, prevent loosening or distribute pressure. There are many different types of washers and washer type products for a variety of applications.

Important dimensions to consider when specifying the size of wave washers include inside diameter, outside diameter, thickness or working height, and rated or working load.  The inside and outside diameter are the most important dimensions.  The thickness or working height refers to either the thickness of the washer material, or the working height (installed height) for the product.  The rated or working load is the maximum or optimal working load for the product.  Spring (or wave) washers are often rated at 50% compression.

Wave washers or wave springs are wavy metal washers designed to provide a compensating spring force and sustain a load or absorb shock.  Wave washers are commonly called spring washers.  Spring washers are disks of metal that are formed in an irregular shape so that when the washer is loaded it deflects, acts like a spring, and provides a preload between two surfaces.  Washers are disks of metal or non-metallic material placed beneath a nut, an axle bearing, or a joint, to relieve friction, prevents leakage, isolate, prevent loosening or distribute pressure. There are many different types of washers and washer type products for a variety of applications.

Important dimensions to consider when specifying the size of wave washers include inside diameter, outside diameter, thickness or working height, and rated or working load.  The inside and outside diameter are the most important dimensions.  The thickness or working height refers to either the thickness of the washer material, or the working height (installed height) for the product.  The rated or working load is the maximum or optimal working load for the product.  Spring (or wave) washers are often rated at 50% compression.

Common materials of construction for wave washers include spring steel, stainless steel, nickel base alloy, and copper base alloy or bronze.  Spring steel is any of a variety of steels that are normally of the high-carbon or alloy type.  They are used in the manufacture of springs because of their high tensile properties. The type of spring steel used depends on the application and type of spring. They range from plain carbon grades in the range 0.5% to 1.00% C., to chromium, chromium-vanadium, nickel-chromium-molybdenum, silico-manganese and silicon-manganese-chromium-molybdenum types.  Stainless steel is chemical and corrosion resistant and can have relatively high pressure ratings.  A nickel base alloy is a metal alloy composed of nickel and one or more other metals, such as copper.  A copper base alloy is metal composed of copper as the main alloying metal and one or more other metals, such as tin, zinc, or phosphorus.  Sintered bronze is a porous material, which can be impregnated with oil, graphite or PTFE. Sintered bronze is not suitable for heavily loaded applications but useful where lubrication is inconvenient.