Benefits of Our Springs:

Our constant force springs and assemblies can eliminate costly and complicated motors, decreasing your device size and cost.

Constant Force Springs

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John Evans’ Sons is an international leader in constant force spring design and manufacturing.

Long deflection, without significant change of force, is a key characteristic of constant force springs. As a balancing mechanism, the constant force spring is more compact and lighter than most other methods and can eliminate deadweights, linkages, cylinders, and other systems. As a return or retracting mechanism, the constant force spring will provide a smooth, even, uniform load through its entire length of travel (deflection). Constant tensioning or pressure is also a constant force spring attribute.

There are many design factors that will affect the time and cost needed to manufacture your spring. Therefore, it’s important to work with a manufacturer like John Evans’ Sons that has the knowledge needed in the design phase.

Our strongest selling points are our custom design capabilities, in-house tooling services, precision manufacturing, a wide and varied stock spring selection, and our commitment to quality and on-time delivery.

To help you in the product selection process, this page will discuss the design considerations of constant force springs, which include:

Application

Materials

Mounting Methods

Environment

Performance Considerations

Industries

Our constant force spring reels are vital components in a wide variety of industries, such as:

Military

Aerospace

Robotics

Medical Devices

Large blue truck driving fast on the road with a truck behind blurred in the distance. The trucking industry depends on high-quality springs for optimal safety and efficiency.

Automotive, Trucking, & Transportation

Man touching the screen of point of purchase machine in self-checkout with blurred grocery store background. John Evans’ Sons, Inc. works with display companies, retailers, and merchandisers to optimize and secure their point-of-purchase displays.

Point of Purchase Displays

Silver elevator with door open. For over 30 years, John Evans’ Sons has been the leader in spring reel elevator door technology.

Elevator Technology

Inside look of electric motor. John Evans’ Sons is a leader in design and manufacturing of custom springs, metal stampings, motor brush springs, constant force springs and spiral torsion springs.

Electric Motors

Windows in manufacturing warehouse, stacked up and ready to ship. As the world leader in constant force spring technology,John Evans’ Sons (est. 1850) has produced well over 100 million high performance window balance products.

Window Manufacturing

Applications of Constant Force Springs

John Evans’ Sons’ constant force springs are in countless applications, including the Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance, to name a few. Constant force spring mechanisms apply constant force throughout their entire length, preventing them from uncoiling while in use. We design and manufacture standard and custom constant force springs for a broad range of applications, some of which include:

Air Conditioners

Cable & Hose Retractors

Electric Motors

Fire Dampers

Gym Equipment

Applications

Air Conditioners

Applications

Cable & Hose Retractors

Applications

Electric Motors

Applications

Fire Dampers

Applications

Gym Equipment

Benefits of Our Constant Force Springs

John Evans’ Sons’ constant force springs and assemblies can decrease your device cost and size by eliminating expensive, complex motors. Our constant tension springs provide:

Strong Force Yield Within Small Spaces

Mounts Easily to Existing Hardware

Smooth, Uniform Load Throughout the Entire Length of Travel (Deflection)

Extensive Linear Range

Compact Size

Materials

The material selection for a constant force spring application is essential in determining the project and design costs. The best constant tension spring material varies depending on the type of environment it will be used in, such as corrosive and high-temperature environments, which can also affect the overall life of the spring and selected material.

The following materials are commonly used in the construction of the physical spring:

301 Stainless Steel

An austenitic chromium-nickel type of stainless steel that can be cold-worked to achieve high ductility and tensile strength. It does not harden by heat treatment, and although it is not magnetic in the annealed state, it does become magnetic with cold deformation.

Inconel

Inconel springs are ideal for use in corrosive environments exposed to salt water, aggressive air, or aggressive water conditions.

High Carbon Steel

Features significant hardness, due to more than 0.3% carbon content.

Mounting Methods

There are several mounting methods, and your application will determine which mounting method is best for your spring’s design. A constant force spring typically gets mounted by wrapping it tightly on a drum and then connecting the free end to the loading force. The relationship is also easily reversed.

The diameter of the drum should be larger than its inside diameter by 10% to 20%. Long extension applications may cause the strip to become unstable, requiring guidance to prevent recoil, kinking, or twisting. At maximum extension, one-and-a-half wraps should still be on the drum.

Idler pulleys need to have a larger diameter than the natural diameter and should not create back-bending against the curvature’s radius.

Click to Expand

Performance Considerations

The life of a constant force spring is rated by the number of cycles it can perform before it begins to break, warp, or exhibit inconsistent constant return force. Springs are typically rated from 2,500 cycles to more than 1 million cycles.

The spring life varies and is dependent on the specific application as well as the following performance considerations:

Fatigue
A low number of required cycles allows for the use of a heavily pre-stressed spring that offers a small footprint and a high return force. Fatigue in the spring will increase when exposed to corrosive materials, high temperatures, and other harsh conditions.
Diameter & Fatigue
Length, material width, thickness, and coil diameter affect the spring’s load. Increased loads can be obtained by using two or more constant force springs interwound, in tandem, or in other configurations.
- Initial Load: The coil reaches a consistent maximum return force at a deflection of 1.25 times its diameter. Initial load refers to the weight needed to meet this consistent force.
- Tensile Load: The material construction of the spring should not withhold it, particularly to change a load. If a brake or stop is needed, it should be placed at the drum or spool mechanism.
Backbend
Reverse winding (back-bending) can permanently deform a spring.
Acceleration
If the application requires a specific retraction/extension speed, mounting and spring testing may be required.
Torque
The device’s return force must be solely responsible for the spring. There should not be any additional friction or torque applied to the coiled body or drum.
Stability
The coil’s natural curve can buckle at long deflections, particularly upon return. Guides, bearings, and a quality drum design can fix the issue. Thickness and width can also increase stability. The width of the coil should be 50 to 250 times the thickness.

Product Resources

Stock Constant Force Spring Selection Chart

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Constant Force Balance Springs Sales Sheet

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Pusher Variable Force Springs for POP Displays

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Design Considerations for Constant Force Springs

Mounting Methods: There are several mounting methods. Your application will determine which mounting method is best for your spring’s design.
Material: The material selection is an important component of the design and project cost. The optimal spring material is often different in high temperature and corrosive environments. Material will certainly affect the design and project cost. High temperatures or corrosive environments will also affect the life of a spring and the required material.
Diameter and Load: Length, material width, thickness, and coil diameter affect the spring’s load. Increased loads can be obtained by using two or more constant force springs interwound, in tandem, or in other configurations.

All of these, plus other technical considerations, need to be discussed and specified prior to creating prototypes. Our design engineering team can help ensure calculations and configurations are exact in the design phase.

Our springs are most often used in the following industries and applications:

Not sure if constant force springs can provide the right action for your product? Contact John Evans’ Sons for more information.

Spring Comparison Chart
for design parameter comparison (matl. thickness vs. cycle life vs. coiled dia.)

(material: T301 SS, Calculations shown are at 1.0” width, interpolate for other spring material widths)

Material Thickness	2,500 cycles		10,000 cycles		20,000 cycles		75,000 cycles		150,000 cycles
	Coiled Dia.	Load (lbs.)	Coiled Dia.	Load (lbs.)	Coiled Dia.	Load (lbs.)	Coiled Dia.	Load (lbs.)	Coiled Dia.	Load (lbs.)
0.002	0.15	1.3	0.17	1	0.22	0.65	0.33	0.32	0.44	0.17
0.003	0.22	2	0.25	1.5	0.32	1	0.48	0.5	0.66	0.26
0.004	0.3	2.6	0.34	2	0.44	1.3	0.65	0.65	0.89	0.35
0.005	0.36	3.3	0.43	2.5	0.55	1.6	0.81	0.8	1.11	0.44
0.006	0.44	4	0.51	3	0.65	2	0.95	1	1.33	0.52
0.008	0.59	5.2	0.69	4	0.87	2.6	1.28	1.3	1.78	0.7
0.01	0.73	6.6	0.86	5	1.08	3.3	1.59	1.6	2.22	0.87
0.012	0.87	8	1.03	6	1.3	4	1.91	2	2.67	1.04
0.014	1.02	9.3	1.2	7	1.52	4.6	2.22	2.3	3.07	1.2
0.016	1.16	10.6	1.37	8	1.73	5.3	2.53	2.7	3.6	1.4
0.018	1.31	11.9	1.54	9	1.96	5.9	2.85	3	4	1.56
0.02	1.46	13.2	1.71	10	2.18	6.6	3.2	3.3	4.44	1.74
0.022	1.61	14.5	1.89	11	2.37	7.2	3.48	3.6	4.89	1.91
0.025	1.81	16.5	2.14	12.5	2.72	8.2	4	4.1	5.55	2.18
0.028	2.04	18.5	2.4	14	3.04	9.5	4.48	4.6	6.23	2.44
0.032	2.26	20.5	2.65	15.5	3.36	10.2	4.94	5.1	6.9	2.7

Selection Charts for the Ideal Constant Force Spring

Part Number	Load	Max Work Deflection	Band Length	Fatigue Life (cycles)	Width	Free I. D.	Thickness
A 3X50-SL04D16	0.23	12"	16"	20,000	0.25"	0.516	0.004
A 3X50-SK04D15	0.32	12"	15"	13,000	0.25"	0.438	0.004
A 3X50-SL05E17	0.36	12"	17"	20,000	0.3125"	0.656	0.005
A 3X50-SH03C10	0.37	8"	10"	2,500	0.1875"	0.219	0.003
A 3X50-SK04E15	0.4	12"	15"	13,000	0.3125"	0.438	0.004
A 3X50-SL05F30	0.43	25"	30"	20,000	0.375"	1.0	0.005
A 3X50-SH04C14	0.49	12"	14"	2,500	0.1875"	0.297	0.004
A 3X50-SK05E16	0.49	12"	16"	13,000	0.3125"	0.563	0.005
A 3X50-SL06F24	0.52	18"	24"	20,000	0.375"	0.781	0.006
A 3X50-SH04D14	0.66	12"	14"	2,500	0.25"	0.297	0.004
A 3X50-SL06G24	0.7	18"	24"	20,000	0.5"	0.781	0.006
A 3X50-SK06F23	0.71	18"	23"	13,000	0.375"	0.672	0.006
A 3X50-SH04E14	0.83	12"	14"	2,500	0.3125"	0.297	0.004
A 3X50-SL08G31	0.93	24"	31"	20,000	0.5"	1.047	0.008
A 3X50-SK06G23	0.95	18"	23"	13,000	0.5"	0.672	0.006
A 3X50-SH05E15	1.03	12"	15"	2,500	0.3125"	0.359	0.005
A 3X50-SK08G30	1.26	24"	30"	13,000	0.5"	0.875	0.008
A 3X50-SL10J33	1.46	24"	33"	20,000	0.625"	1.328	0.010
A 3X50-SH06F21	1.48	18"	21"	2,500	0.375"	0.438	0.006
A 3X50-SK08J30	1.58	24"	30"	13,000	0.625"	0.875	0.008
A 3X50-SH06G21	1.97	18"	21"	2,500	0.5"	0.438	0.006
A 3X50-SK10J32	1.98	24"	32"	13,000	0.625"	1.109	0.010
A 3X50-SL12K42	2.09	30"	42"	20,000	0.75"	1.578	0.012
A 3X50-SK10K32	2.37	24"	32"	13,000	0.75"	1.109	0.010
A 3X50-SH08G28	2.63	24"	28"	2,500	0.5"	0.578	0.008
A 3X50-SL12P42	2.8	30"	42"	20,000	1"	1.578	0.012
A 3X50-SK12K40	2.84	30"	40"	13,000	0.75"	1.344	0.012
A 3X50-SH08J28	3.29	24"	28"	2,500	0.625"	0.578	0.008
A 3X50-SL15P46	3.5	30"	46"	20,000	1"	1.984	0.015
A 3X50-SK12P40	3.79	30"	40"	13,000	1"	1.344	0.012
A 3X50-SH10J29	4.12	24"	29"	2,500	0.625"	0.734	0.010
A 3X50-SL15R46	4.37	30"	46"	20,000	1.25"	1.984	0.015
A 3X50-SK15P42	4.74	30"	42"	13,000	1.0"	1.672	0.015
A 3X50-SH10K29	4.95	24"	29"	2,500	0.75"	0.734	0.010
A 3X50-SK18P47	5.69	32"	47"	13,000	1.0"	2.0	0.018
A 3X50-SL20R54	5.83	36"	54"	20,000	1.25"	2.625	0.020
A 3X50-SH12K36	5.94	30"	36"	2,500	0.75"	0.875	0.012
A 3X50-SL20S54	6.99	36"	54"	20,000	1.5"	2.625	0.020
A 3X50-SH12P36	7.92	30"	36"	2,500	1.0"	0.875	0.012
A 3X50-SL25S59	8.74	36"	59"	20,000	1.5"	3.297	0.025
A 3X50-SK20S52	9.48	36"	52"	13,000	1.5"	2.219	0.020
A 3X50-SH16P38	10.6	30"	38"	2,500	1.0"	1.156	0.016
A 3X50-SL25U59	11.7	36"	59"	20,000	2.0"	3.297	0.025
A 3X50-SK25S57	11.9	36"	57"	13,000	1.5"	2.781	0.020
A 3X50-SL31U69	14.4	42"	69"	20,000	2.0"	4.078	0.031
A 3X50-SK25U57	15.8	36"	57"	13,000	2.0"	2.781	0.025
A 3X50-SH20R47	16.5	36"	47"	2,500	1.25"	1.469	0.020
A 3X50-SK31U68	19.6	42"	68"	13,000	2.0"	3.438	0.031
A 3X50-SH20S47	19.8	36"	47"	2,500	1.5"	1.469	0.020
A 3X50-SH25S48	24.8	36"	48"	2,500	1.5"	1.828	0.025
A 3X50-SH25U48	33	36"	48"	2,500	2.0"	1.828	0.025
A 3X50-SH31U58	40.9	42"	58"	2,500	2.0"	2.266	0.031

Available from our distributor, Stock Drive Products. Tel: 516-328-3300

Constant Force Spring Technical Information and Diameter vs. Load Chart (matl: T301 SS, calculations shown are at 1.0" width, interpolate for other spring material widths)

	2,500 cycles		10,000 cycles		20,000 cycles		75,000 cycles		150,000 cycles
Material Thickness	Coiled Dia.	Load	Coiled Dia.	Load	Coiled Dia.	Load	Coiled Dia.	Load	Coiled Dia.	Load
0.002	0.15	1.3	0.17	1.0	0.22	0.65	0.33	0.32	0.44	0.17
0.003	0.22	2.0	0.25	1.5	0.32	1.0	0.48	0.50	0.66	0.26
0.004	0.30	2.6	0.34	1.5	0.44	1.3	0.65	0.65	0.89	0.35
0.005	0.36	3.3	0.43	2.5	0.55	1.6	0.81	0.80	1.11	0.44
0.006	0.44	4.0	0.51	3.0	0.65	2.0	0.95	1.00	1.33	0.52
0.008	0.59	5.2	0.69	4.0	0.87	2.6	1.28	1.30	1.78	0.70
0.010	0.73	6.6	0.86	5.0	1.08	3.3	1.59	1.60	2.22	0.87
0.012	0.87	8.0	1.03	6.0	1.30	4.0	1.91	2.00	2.67	1.04
0.014	1.02	9.3	1.20	7.0	1.52	4.6	2.22	2.30	3.07	1.20
0.016	1.16	10.6	1.37	8.0	1.73	5.3	2.53	2.70	3.60	1.40
0.018	1.31	11.9	1.54	9.0	1.96	5.9	2.85	3.00	4.00	1.56
0.020	1.46	13.2	1.71	10.0	2.18	6.6	3.20	3.30	4.44	1.74
0.022	1.61	14.5	1.89	11.0	2.37	7.2	3.48	3.60	4.89	1.91
0.025	1.81	16.5	2.14	12.5	2.72	8.2	4.00	4.10	5.55	2.18
0.028	2.04	18.5	2.40	14.0	3.04	9.5	4.48	4.60	6.23	2.44
0.031	2.26	20.5	2.65	15.5	3.36	10.2	4.94	5.10	6.90	2.70

CLICK for a larger selection chart, LIVE data & ordering links!

STOCK Constant Force Spring Selection Chart

Order small quantities (click chart shown above).

Download .pdf

Window Balance Springs

1/2″ Constant Force Window Balance Selection Guide

Download .pdf

Window Balance Springs

3/4″ Constant Force Window Balance Selection Guide

Contact John Evans’ Sons to Learn More About Constant Tension Springs

The technical team at John Evans’ Sons provides in-depth knowledge and expertise, assisting customers with each phase of the manufacturing process. We are ready to answer questions and can help customers define the product they need to meet the demands of a specific application. We produce standard and custom constant force springs, and we are ready to work with you on any of your customization needs.

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Benefits of Our Constant Force Springs