Most people probably don’t think about springs until one kinks up or snaps, but most of the world’s springs are pretty crucial. The ones that aren’t go by the name Slinky. We all use and encounter ...

Machined springs from Helical Products Co. Inc., Santa Maria, Calif. (www.heli-cal.com), have features cut from a solid blank of material. Gears, cams, tangs, flanges, and threads all can be ...