How to Select a Star Lock Washer to Suit Your Needs?

Working Environment

• Temperature: If the working environment has a high temperature, choose a star lock washer made of high-temperature resistant materials, such as stainless steel or high-temperature alloy. For example, when used in high-temperature areas like near the engine, ordinary carbon steel washers may lose their strength due to high-temperature annealing, resulting in a decline in the locking effect. In low-temperature environments, the low-temperature toughness of the material should be considered to prevent the washer from becoming brittle and cracking.
• Humidity and Corrosiveness: In humid environments or those with corrosive media, such as by the sea or in chemical workshops, corrosion-resistant materials should be selected, such as stainless steel (304, 316, etc.) or washers with special anti-corrosion treatment, to avoid the washer being corroded and affecting its locking performance and service life.
• Vibration Conditions: For occasions with large vibrations, such as the moving parts of mechanical equipment and automobile engines, the star lock washer is required to have good anti-loosening performance. Its tooth structure should be able to effectively embed into the surface of the connected parts to provide sufficient friction to prevent loosening.

Connection Strength Requirements

• Load Size: Select a washer with appropriate strength according to the load of the connected parts. If the load is large, choose washers made of high-strength materials, such as high-strength alloy steel washers, to ensure that they will not be damaged when subjected to large tensile or compressive forces and to guarantee the reliability of the connection.
• Pre-tightening Force Requirements: In some application scenarios, there are strict requirements for the pre-tightening force of screws. The selection of star lock washers should be able to cooperate with the screws to achieve the required pre-tightening force and maintain the stability of the pre-tightening force during use. For example, in important connections such as bridges and building steel structures, the accurate control of pre-tightening force is of great significance.

Dimensional Specifications

• Inner and Outer Diameters: The inner diameter of the star lock washer should match the diameter of the screw it cooperates with, generally slightly larger than the screw diameter to ensure that the washer can be smoothly installed on the screw. The outer diameter should be determined according to the surface condition of the connected parts and the installation space to ensure that the washer can provide sufficient support area without affecting the installation and use of other components.
• Thickness: The thickness of the washer affects its elasticity and locking effect. Thicker washers usually have better elasticity and load-bearing capacity, but they may take up more installation space. When selecting, it is necessary to balance the influence of thickness on the locking performance and installation space according to the actual needs.

Material Quality

• Material Type: Common materials for star lock washers include carbon steel, stainless steel, copper alloy, etc. Carbon steel washers are relatively low in price and suitable for general industrial and civil applications. Stainless steel washers have good corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance and are suitable for harsh environments. Copper alloy washers have better electrical conductivity and anti-magnetism and are often used in special fields such as electrical equipment.
• Quality Certification: Choose products with quality certifications such as ISO and RoHS. These certifications can, to a certain extent, ensure that the material quality and production process of the washers comply with relevant standards, making the product quality more reliable.

Brand and Supplier

• Brand Reputation: Well-known brands usually have better guarantees in terms of product quality, performance and after-sales service. Choosing brands with a good reputation in the market can reduce the risk of purchasing inferior products.
• Supplier Credibility: Choose suppliers with good credibility to ensure that the star lock washers purchased are genuine and that the supplier can provide timely technical support and after-sales service. The credibility of the supplier can be evaluated by checking the supplier's customer reviews, cooperation cases and other means.

Cost-effectiveness

• Price: On the premise of meeting the usage requirements, consider the price factor of the product. The prices of star lock washers of different brands, materials and specifications may vary. It is necessary to comprehensively compare and select products with high cost performance. However, do not choose products with unguaranteed quality just because of their low prices, otherwise greater losses may be caused due to the failure of the washers.
• Service Life: Consider the service life of the washers. Although some high-quality washers are relatively high in price, they have stable performance, are wear-resistant and have a long service life. In the long run, they may have better cost-effectiveness.