FALL 2024

124 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

124 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK SPIROL HOW PRE-FABRICATED DISC SPRING STACKS SAVE TIME, MONEY & ENSURE QUALITY from page 64 FIGURE 2 - DISC SPRING STACK WITH THRUST WASHERS These questions need to be considered up front since some Disc Spring Stacks require technically skilled employees to construct the stack while others are more straightforward. If one Disc Spring in a stack is missing or is placed in an incorrect orientation, the performance of the Disc Spring Stack, as well as the life cycle of the product in which it is used, will be impacted. The same holds true with lubricants used between each Disc Spring stacked in parallel. Too much or too little lubrication may have a drastic effect on friction. Any of these missteps could shorten the life of the Disc Spring Stack and have a catastrophic impact on the assembly in which it is used. An alternative to purchasing single Disc Springs and stacking them inhouse is for manufacturers to purchase pre-fabricated Disc Spring Stacks (Figure 1). Purchasing from a Disc Spring manufacturer that utilizes automation for sorting, lubricating, assembling, packaging, inspecting and shipping pre-fabricated Disc Springs Stacks is an additional advantage. Benefits To Purchasing Pre-Fabricated Disc Spring Stacks ¤ The time required to construct the Disc Stack is eliminated. ¤ Consistent lubrication between the Disc Springs is achieved – with no mess. ¤ The need for extensive training on how to properly assemble the Disc Spring Stack is eliminated. ¤ The requirement to design and build an assembly jig is eliminated. ¤ Quality and mistake-proofing of each stack configuration is eliminated. ¤ The time to complete the assembly process is significantly reduced, as each Disc Spring Stack is now simply a single drop-in-place unit. The Purchasing process is also simplified as the Disc Spring Stacks are ordered as a single (completed) unit rather than each Disc Spring being ordered individually. Customized packaging enables trouble-free shipping of the Disc Spring Stacks without worry of the stacks disassembling during the shipping process. As needed, the Disc Spring Stacks can simply be pulled from inventory as a completed unit and delivered to either the production floor or to field operations. In addition to providing trouble-free shipping and storage, the robust packaging is equipped with features to facilitate easy removal once the Disc Spring Stack is positioned in the assembly. Conclusion When manufacturers use pre-fabricated Disc Spring Stacks (Figure 3) rather than purchasing single Disc Springs and stacking them in-house, they are easily able to save time and money while ensuing the quality of their final assembly. FIGURE 3 - PRE-FABRICATED DISC SPRING STACK SPIROL INTERNATIONAL CORP.

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