STAINLESS STEEL CONICAL SPRING WASHERS DIN 6796

Conical Spring Washers DIN 6796 — DIN 6796 is a different class of spring washer to the split or curved types - a single steep conical disc engineered against a published load-deflection curve, designed to be used directly under a high-tensile bolt head or nut to maintain a defined level of clamp force through the life of the joint. Where a split lock washer relies on friction and a bit of edge bite, DIN 6796 is sized so it compresses to a calculated flat height at the joint's intended preload, giving a predictable, engineered amount of stored spring energy that keeps working even as the joint settles, embeds, or cycles thermally over time. That predictability is exactly why it is specified on high-tensile bolted joints where preload retention genuinely matters - machinery, structural fittings, and any assembly where losing clamp force silently over time would be a real problem rather than a cosmetic one. It is typically used together with a hardened flat washer beneath it and a matching hardened bolt, forming a defined assembly rather than being dropped in as a general-purpose add-on the way a DIN 127 spring washer often is. Bolted joints can lose clamping force over time due to embedding of surface irregularities, gasket relaxation, or thermal cycling, and a conical spring washer's stored spring force compensates for a degree of this loss, helping maintain joint integrity without requiring re-torquing. It also is not the same mechanism as a Schnorr-style safety washer or a wedge-lock washer: DIN 6796 relies purely on conical spring geometry to store and release energy, while those alternatives combine spring action with friction, serration, or cam geometry to add a mechanical locking element on top. Material and hardness class both need to be matched to the bolt grade rather than chosen on convenience - this is one washer where getting the hardness class wrong genuinely undermines the joint's engineered performance, not just its corrosion resistance. Stainless variants (A2/A4 equivalent) are available for corrosive environments, but the spring-rate and hardness specification should always take priority over material choice alone when selecting the correct DIN 6796 washer for a given bolt diameter and joint design.

FAQs
How does DIN 6796 differ from a general curved or split lock washer?
DIN 6796 washers are engineered to a specific load-deflection characteristic and are typically used with a hardened flat washer beneath them and a hardened bolt, forming a defined assembly rather than a general-purpose add-on like DIN 127.

Is DIN 6796 the same as a Schnorr or Nord-Lock style washer?
No. DIN 6796 relies on conical spring geometry alone, whereas products such as Schnorr safety washers combine spring action with friction or serration, and wedge-lock washers use cam geometry - each achieves preload retention by a different mechanism.

How do I choose the correct DIN 6796 washer?
Match the washer to the bolt diameter and grade specified in the joint design, and confirm the required hardness class and spring-force rating against the design, along with whether a matching flat washer is specified beneath it.