Spring plungers are a discrete mechanical device to; secure, position, index, positively lock, and apply lift-off pressure. They are a three-piece component: (1) ball or pin as the contact point, (2) spring of varying force, assembled in to a small grub screw like housing (3). The housing is typically made from steel, stainless steel (generally AISI 303 and 305, other types also available), brass or plastic, with ball bearing steel ball or pin head, are available in a range of threads as small as M2 up to M24, and in UNC and UNF inch sizes. They also come as smooth body push-fit models for quick and easy installation.
Millions of Wixroyd’s spring plungers have been trusted in tens of thousands of applications; medical and scientific equipment, electronic components, machine and fixture designs.
A popular push fit spring plunger, a wide range of material variations including stainless steel, brass and plastic.
Unique body design flexes to expand and contract to fit inlocation bore tolerances a wide as +0,2mm. Especially suited to installation in materilas where precise bores are difficult to machine.
This smooth body, ball ended spring plunger comes in a stainless body with hardened steel ball. Special variations can be made to your designs.
A double ended spring plunger with a central knurled section for ease of installation. They are used mainly for axial location and securing of bolts.
Expander fit spring plungers, smooth body, with collar and ball. Used for locating, applying pressure, detent or ejection. Available in stainless steel.
Spring Plunger with pin end, smooth with collar. Used for locating, applying pressure or lifting off. Available in stainless steel.
Smooth model spring plungers, long. Used as pulling off pins and spring stops in tool making. Available in blackened steel.
Spring plungers with ball end & hex. socket. Available in steel or stainless steel. These spring plungers may be used for location, for applying pressure or lifting off.
A ball end and slot spring plunger manufactured in steel and stainless steel with sizes starting from M2 up to M24. Increased spring strength variations are provided within the standard range
Headed spring plungers with a ball & slot, available in steel and stainless steel. Can handle temperatures up to 250 ℃.
Plastic version spring plungers. May be used where electrical conductivity is not required.
Spring plungers with ball end & hex. socket- headed. Available in steel or stainless steel. Used for locating, applying pressure or lifting off. Special types available on request.
Spring plunger with slot and ceramic ball, manufactured in 316 stainless steel for greater corrosion resistance.
Imperial spring plunger with ball head; also comes in variations with pin heads (3B150, 3B200).
A hex socket spring plunger with an indexing pin, available in free cutting steel & stainless steel. Increased spring forces included within the standard range.
Supplied with a slot and round ended pin for locating. Sizes range from M4 to M24 standard. Special sizes available on request.
Threaded body with pin end and hex socket made of stainless steel. Spring-loaded, these plungers are used for location, applying pressure or lifting off applications.
Spring plungers with pin end & hex socket and seal. Available in steel and stainless steel. Incorporation of a seal into the design prevents liquid penetrating into the spring plunger.
Spring bodies available in steel or stainless steel. To be used for locating or as a detent. Special springs available on request.
Long version spring plungers. Available in steel. Used for ejecting parts (particularly in press tools), and applying pressure.
Striker bushes for spring plungers. Available in hardened steel. Striker bushings are used together with spring plungers when a contact surface is required with high resistance.
Spring plunger holder for part no. 32300. Left, right and centre mounting options available.
Ideal for smaller and lighter location requirements or those with thin materials. To learn more about our index plungers, visit this page.
Single Acting T-Handle ball lock pins quick fastening and locking of frequently repeated connections. Handle offers confidence in handling and installation. To see more of our popular ball lock pins, visit this page.
Made of high quality steel and stainless steel (and more!), Wixroyd's Spring Plunger range is proven to be reilable for millions of repetitions in securing, positioning, positive locking, indexing and quick release. Their application is limited only by the imagination!
Used in conjunction with a simple hinge, Wixroyd Spring Plunger 32300 provides an easy and secure means to positively position and secure the back panel of a blood gas analysis machine.
With both brass and stainless steel varieties, our Spring Plungers have a wide range of application in the medical, pharmaceutical, food and drink proccessing industries.
Uses
Industry Sectors
Material | Notes |
Steel | Steel is a high strength alloy of carbon and iron often used in engineering applications. |
Stainless steel | Stainless steel is more corrosion resistant than steel but is more expensive. Austenitic AISI grades 303 and 305 are generally present in our spring plungers. The extra corrosion resistant AISI 316 grade is also available on request. |
Brass | Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc with a golden/yellow metallic lustre. Brass does not rust, but can tarnish over time. Not compatible with very strong acidic or amine/ammonia-based solutions. |
Plastic (polyoxymethylene; POM) | POM (also known as polyacetal; PA) is a thermoplastic polymer with excellent properties for mechanical engineering products. It has a very high strength-to-weight ratio and can be a very cost-effective material choice. |
31400, 31420, 31500, 32000, 32100, 32102, 32280, 32300, 32302, 32350
31000, 31600, 32150, 32200, 32220, 32282, 32400, 32420
We are often asked regarding the electrical conductivity of our Spring Plungers. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any reliable information on this topic as there are many factors in play. We recommend you study the specific material properties of the Spring Plunger component parts to make your own calculations - alternatively if in doubt, make a test application.
Three available spring pressure models.
All Wixroyd metric spring plungers have a course thread.
O dia. (D) | 3 | 3,5 | 4 | 4,5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 |
Pitch | 0,50 | 0,60 | 0,70 | 0,75 | 0,80 | 1,00 | 1,00 | 1,25 | 1,50 | 1,75 | 2,00 | 2,00 | 2,50 | 2,50 | 2,50 | 3,00 |
S Stroke, or movement of plunger's ball or pin
f1 The force required in Newtons (N) to over come the static strength of the spring and achieve initial movement of the plunger's ball or pin.
f2 The force required in Newtons (N) to fully compress the spring and to depress the ball or pin fully against the plunger's body.
Although dependent upon a number of application specific factors, we are able to give the following guide relating to the maximum number of spring repetitions or cycles of our spring plungers.
Important Note: This is only an approximation formula, for more accurate calculation the roughness of the counterpart surface as well asany variation in the plungers spring force (due to age or high repetitions) should be considered.
We are able to provide the following formula as an approximation of the pull or push force (N) required to 'release' a ball plunger from its indexing counterpart.
For Example:
For Spring plunger 31500.W0010;
F=24N (see product table)
Spring Plungers vs Ball Plungers: What's the difference?
Spring plungers and ball plungers are amongst the most common types of mechanical plungers. Essentially they are the same thing but spring plungers can also use a pin in the end instead of a ball. Therefore 'Spring plunger' is used as a collective term for the various possible options. Ball plunger by its very name will only use a ball at the end.
Plastic or Metal Spring Plungers: Which Should I Choose?
This will mainly depend upon the application and environment they are planning to be used in. Plastic options are great for applications where weight is a critical matter or corrosion resistance is important. Likewise, metal spring plungers will be more robust but the choice between steel and stainless will be dependant upon the intended environment they are to be used in.
What are the different types of Spring Plungers?
Spring plungers come in many types and the right product for you will be dictated by your intended application. Threaded spring plungers work well with different industrial applications like machine tools and are often used as shock absorbers or ejectors by applying repeatable spring end forces through a ball or rounded nose. Other spring plunger types include pull pin, smooth body and push pin, as well as index plungers which are used in machine and fixture applications to lock items in place.
Can I swap the spring in a spring body over in a spring body with one of my own?
The springs are captive in a spring body and are part of the production process, so we cannot provide bodies without springs – a punch has been used on the side of the spring body to retain the spring. For large quantities we can produce a special or bespoke order to meet your needs.
Can Wixroyd do an expander Spring Plunger (32302) for me with a diameter of Ø3mm?
The expander fit spring plunger (32302) in size Ø3 is unfortunately not available.
Production of the parts body uses injection molding and for a Ø3mm diameter the tooling is currently unavailable
Do expander Spring Plungers (32302) require a tool for installation?
Expander spring plunger range (32302) is a push fit spring plunger that does not need specific tooling for installation.
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Glenmore Business Park
Portfield Works
Chichester, PO19 7BJ (UK)
Telephone 0333 207 4497
or + 44 (0) 1483 266 777
Email sales@wixroyd.com
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