STAINLESS STEEL LOCKING WASHER S TYPE

Locking Washer S Type — An S type locking washer works on a completely different principle to a spring or toothed washer - it is a two-piece safety washer built on a ramped-disc design, with a hardened top washer sitting against a curved spring disc and internal ramps between the two faces. Tighten the joint and any tendency for the assembly to rotate loose gets converted into axial ramp travel that actually increases clamp tension, rather than simply resisting rotation with friction or a bit of spring force the way a conventional split lock washer does. That makes it a genuinely more active anti-loosening mechanism than a plain spring washer, without needing the mechanical complexity of a tab washer or the single-use nature of a nylon insert nut. It is specified wherever moderate, reliable vibration resistance is needed without requiring a full positive-locking device - general machinery, equipment assembly, and mechanical fixings subject to ongoing vibration where a plain DIN 127 spring washer has proven marginal but a tab washer or castellated nut and split pin would be overkill. The design is produced both generically and under specific manufacturer names - Schnorr's S type being the best-known branded version - with the generic product following the same ramped-disc principle without being tied to a particular manufacturer's spring steel specification and quality control. Material selection depends on both the mechanical duty and the environment: spring steel gives the best ramp and disc performance for demanding mechanical service, while stainless variants (A2/304-equivalent as the general default, A4/316-equivalent for marine, coastal, or chemically aggressive settings) trade a small amount of spring performance for corrosion resistance where that is the more important factor. Selecting the right S type washer means matching the bore to the fastener diameter and confirming this ramped-disc mechanism genuinely suits the vibration environment, rather than assuming any spring washer will do the same job with the same reliability.

FAQs
How does an S type washer differ from a conventional split lock washer?
A split lock washer relies mainly on its split, biting edges, while an S type conical washer relies on a smooth, continuous spring disc and ramp geometry, generally giving a more consistent spring force but less mechanical bite than a split washer.

Is an S type washer the same as a Schnorr washer?
S type describes the general conical single-disc design; Schnorr is a specific manufacturer whose S type washer is produced to their own established design and quality specification. Generic S type washers follow the same principle without being tied to that brand.

How do I choose the correct S type locking washer?
Match the bore to the fastener diameter and select S type washers where moderate, reliable vibration resistance is needed without requiring a full mechanical anti-rotation device.