You can start a spring prototype with a drawing, a hand sketch or a physical sample. We confirm manufacturability before quoting, reply quickly with a quotation or engineering questions, and have no fixed minimum order. That means a small prototype lot and later volume production go through the same engineering review.
Key Takeaways
- Send a DWG, DXF, STEP, PDF, JPG or PNG file, or post us a physical sample.
- With no drawing, wire diameter (d), outside diameter (D0) and free length (L0) are enough to start.
- No fixed MOQ. Quotation or engineering feedback within 24 hours.
- Prototype and pre-production samples are supplied for dimensional, load and application approval, typically within 7 to 15 working days.
Which springs R&D projects use and why
Early designs often change spring type. A mechanism that pushes back needs a compression spring, one that pulls a part home needs an extension spring, and a lid, lever or hinge that rotates usually needs a torsion spring. Clips and retaining parts are often simpler as wire forms.
Space is the most common reason a first concept fails. When a coil spring is too tall, a wave spring can often give similar load in less axial height. A conical spring can be designed so its coils nest, giving a lower solid height. Disc springs carry high loads over short travel. Our wire range runs from 0.1 mm to 80 mm, so miniature and heavy-duty versions of a design can both be reviewed here.
Our team of 28+ engineers includes Senior Engineers Pei Jianhua and Chen Zhiyuan, R&D Engineer Li Chengyuan and Export Engineer Ji Minli. Technical content on this site is reviewed by Feng Yulin, General Manager and senior structural engineer, who has 15 years of experience in spring R&D and more than 30 national patents.
Prototype and tooling is stage 2 of the six-stage process described on our capabilities page, so a prototype goes through the same requirement review as production parts.
Choosing material and finish for prototype and pilot builds
Prototype in the material you plan to produce in. A load test on a substitute wire tells you little, because modulus and strength change the rate and the safe stress level.
| Material | Why choose it for a prototype | Check before approval |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon spring wire, piano/music wire | High strength, common for general mechanisms | Needs a coating or oil where corrosion matters |
| Oil-tempered wire, silicon-chrome, alloy spring steel | Higher stress and larger wire sizes | Heat treatment is part of the process |
| Stainless 304 / 316 | Corrosion resistance without plating | Lower strength than music wire at the same size |
| Phosphor bronze, beryllium copper | Electrical contact or non-magnetic needs | Lower strength than steel; confirm load margin |
| Nickel alloy, titanium alloy | Severe corrosion; nickel alloys also for high temperature, titanium where weight matters | Material cost and availability; confirm at quotation |
Usual finishes on our parts include zinc and nickel plating, black oxide, phosphate, powder coating, painting, passivation and polishing. A coating adds thickness, so tell us whether the drawing dimensions apply before or after finishing.
What to send for an engineering review
- Geometry: drawing, sketch or sample. At minimum d, D0 and L0.
- Load and movement: force or torque at the working position, and travel or angle.
- Material and environment: temperature, corrosion, cleanliness and expected service life.
- Quantity and records: prototype quantity, expected production volume, and any inspection reports, material certificates or traceability you need.
Our guide on how to specify a custom compression spring walks through each parameter.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a prototype from a sample with no drawing?
Yes. We work from the sample and confirm manufacturability before quoting.
Is there a minimum quantity for prototypes?
There is no fixed MOQ. We evaluate quantity by spring type, tooling and material, and we support both small prototype lots and high-volume production.
What records come with prototype samples?
Documentation is agreed at project setup. It can include inspection reports, material certificates, dimensional records and traceability.
Ready to test a design? Share your drawing, sketch or sample details to start the engineering review.
Upload a Drawing 