Canted Coil Springs

Four main jobs: latching (a click-in, repeatable connection), holding (steady retention force), conducting (reliable electrical contact), and sealing. Their slanted coils hold near-constant force across a wide deflection range.

A canted coil spring provides a near-constant force across its full deflection range, unlike a standard compression spring whose force increases linearly with compression. This constant-force behavior makes canted coil springs ideal for electrical contact applications (the contact force remains consistent regardless of manufacturing tolerances), mechanical retention (the part snaps into a groove and holds with consistent force), and seal energization (continuous radial pressure even as the seal material relaxes over time).

A garter spring is a coil joined into a ring that applies radial force, common in seals. A canted coil spring holds near-constant force over a wide deflection and can latch, conduct, and seal. We make both and help you choose.

Yes. When installed in a circular groove around a connector or housing interface, canted coil springs create a continuous, low-resistance conductive path around the full circumference. This provides 360-degree EMI/RFI shielding. The multi-point contact design maintains shielding performance even when mating surfaces are misaligned or subject to vibration, as is common in automotive electronics and aerospace rack-and-panel connectors.

EV applications include high-voltage charging connectors (where the spring maintains contact force during thousands of mating cycles), battery module interconnects, motor power connectors, and high-current busbars with spring-loaded contact interfaces. The vibration resistance and consistent contact force of canted coil springs make them suitable for the demanding thermal and vibration environment of EV drivetrains.

RPK Group manufactures canted coil springs in carbon steel, stainless steel, Inconel, Elgiloy, Hastelloy, and copper alloys. Available platings include silver, gold, and nickel, with thicknesses ranging from 0.5 μm to 10 μm. Material and plating selection depends on current requirements, operating temperature, corrosion environment, and conductivity specifications.

The groove must match the spring's installed height and cross-section diameter. Incorrect groove dimensions lead to over-compression (damaging the spring) or under-engagement (loss of contact force). Contact RPK Group's engineering team for guidance on groove design tailored to your spring dimensions and application loads.

Yes. Canted coil springs function as retaining rings in groove-to-groove assemblies. They provide a near-constant retention force and do not fatigue over thousands of assembly and disassembly cycles, unlike traditional snap rings or retaining clips. This makes them standard in medical device connectors, defense equipment, and industrial tooling systems.

Canted coil springs manufactured in Elgiloy, Inconel, or Hastelloy withstand the high pressure, high temperature, and corrosive chemical environment of downhole drilling tools and subsea connectors. They are used to energize high-pressure seals and maintain electrical contact in measurement-while-drilling (MWD) and logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools.

Yes. RPK Group supplies canted coil springs for medical connectors, surgical instruments, and implantable device interconnects. Medical-grade springs are manufactured in clean room conditions from biocompatible materials. Contact our team for compliance documentation specific to your device classification.

RPK Group produces canted coil springs with wire diameters starting at 0.10 mm. This micro-scale capability serves miniaturized connectors, wearable medical devices, hearing instruments, and compact electronic assemblies.