The most economical of our bench top comparators, the HE400 offers a 16" (400mm) diameter screen, 10" x 4" (250mm x 100mm) X-Y stage travel, LED lighting, choice of six bayonet-style fixed interchangeable lenses and Q-axis angular readout: all to improve capability and performance.
FALL 2025
Serving Manufacturers of Springs, Wire Formed Parts, Wire Mesh and Rebar Products
HEAT TREATMENT...P. 62-68
SPRING GRINDING..P. 82-83 WIRE HANDLING...P. 80-81 COMPANY PROFILES...P. 87-110
The Racing Force of Springs
Case Study: Force measurement testing of valve springs pushed development of high-performance engines and led an engine builder to success in NASCAR
The L.S. Starrett Company Athol, MA, USA www.starrettmetrology.com/force
One of the most mission-critical applications for springs lies in the valvetrain of high-performance rac- ing engines. Recoiling 75 times per second, even the slightest, typically undetectable difference in prime functionality of the springs can easily cost a race. It is the one of the highest stressed components in a racing engine. Indeed, a racing engine valve spring is anala- gous to a valve in the human heart, even though their lifespans differ profoundly. To maximize performance, racing valve springs are only designed to last 700 to 1000 miles! Roush Yates Engines (RYE) of Mooresville, NC, USA, and its manufacturing division, Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions (RYMS) , knows all too well how critical springs are to its success. So, when The L.S. Starrett Company recommended that RYE con- sider evaluating the use of its force testing equipment as a very finite means of measurement for determining
load characteristics of its valve springs, it took them up on the offer in 2019 and began using a Starrett FMS-5000 Force Testing System to provide extensive load data and analysis. What RYE discovered was very revealing, and it led to a totally new paradigm for its spring testing. Demanding Performance, Precision RYE has three well-equipped quality labs which have the tools necessary to measure and inspect a wide variety of parts being manufactured and supplied for its racing engines as well as for external customers. RYE is the exclusive engine builder of Ford Perfor- mance racing teams in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series . In addition, Roush Yates Manufacturing Solu- tions (RYMS) is a precision CNC parts manufacturing division of Roush Yates Engines with expertise in the multi-axis machining of metal and plastic parts with complex geometries. RYMS’ in-house production includes machined solutions for the Ford’s FR9 V8 NASCAR programs, chassis motorsports components, aerospace, defense, medical and high-tech industries. RYMS’ quality management system is AS9100 Rev D & ISO 13485 certified, as well as International Traffic in Arms (ITAR) and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliant. Recoiling 75 times per second, valve springs in a high-performance race engine can make the difference on achieving a win or a loss, requiring accurate, reliable force testing to determine load characteristics. Eric Kerley, Valvetrain Engineer, Roush Yates Engines performing valve spring load testing on Starrett FMS 5000 Force System. Image courtesy of Roush Yates Engines.
Through a collaborative development process, engineering experience and state-of-the- art test equipment, Roush Yates Engines is able to setup tests in lab environments which closely represent on-track operating conditions. Image courtesy of Roush Yates Engines.
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To help achieve its demanding performance and company goals, RYE chose Starrett precision measur - ing tools and metrology systems to ensure that critical design specifications are being met at the level expect - ed and required by engineering. Motorsports, defense, aerospace and medical manufacturing requires strict standards to achieve consistent quality. Add in com - plex requirements for high-performance and reliable parts, and the test and measurement processes are even more demanding. Data Driven Racing Racing engine building requires the utmost of pre - cision, and precision cannot be fully attained without comprehensive data. Historically valve spring load has been measured with the use of a mechanical “spring rater,“ a basic benchtop device with a pull-handle that is connected to a rod and stand with a dial indicator. While this method provides simple load values, there are limitations in terms of its accuracy, repeatability and the inability to provide force analysis data. “So much of what we do is data driven,” explained Todd English , Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing at RYE. “The valve spring is a highly stressed component that requires data validations at various positions and stress points via a highly repeat - able process and system. The Starrett Force System has given us a tremendous amount of data, enabling us to fully leverage spring component validation as it relates to our engine development programs. The amount of detail required in performance racing engines is stag - gering. We look into our processes at a microscopic level day in, day out,” continued English. Consistency, Customization, by Force The plethora of valuable force measurement data has not only enabled RYE to consistently validate spring load data every time, it has also spawned unique programs and methods of measurement. According to Eric Kerley , Valvetrain Engineer at RYE, “We study load measurements for various spring positions, analyze dynamic load characteristics, vali- date spring metrics and track load loss changes after races. We have also learned to apply the data in areas we had not initially used it for, such as in Research and Development. The Starrett Force System’s flexible software has allowed us to create customized, propri - etary test programs for valve spring measurement and development projects that require comprehensive force analysis,” said Kerley. “In addition, its ability to meas - ure force in two directions has allowed us to measure not only compression springs, but also tension springs and other applications where friction may be at play. It has even given us the ability to develop and calibrate proprietary measurement tools in the development of our Valvetrain Systems, as well as adapting unique
The valve spring is a highly stressed component that requires data validations at various positions and stress points via a highly repeatable process and system. Image courtesy of Roush Yates Engines.
fixtures for many force measurement applications.”
Anatomy of the System The Starrett FMS-5000 Force Testing System is comprised of a Motorized Test Frame (or stand) and is software-driven. While it is capable of accurately determining distance, break or more complex material testing applications such as Young’s Modulus, tensile
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The Racing Force of Springs ...continued
Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive builder of Ford Performance racing teams in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series. Image courtesy of Roush Yates Engines.
strength, stress or strain, RYE’s primary application is load, at a maximum of 5000 N (Newtons) of force. The system is easy-to-use and features a rigid, extruded aluminum column and a granite base for exceptional stiffness and stability. In addition, a large 8” base plate ensures the correct alignment of samples, although the valve springs are fixtured in self-aligning steel platens. The system also features adjustable over-travel limits that prevent accidental overloading, and inter- changeable load sensors that are mounted in a rigid wrap-around crosshead that moves up and down on the test frame column. Dominating the Track Determining the bottom line value of what a Force Measurement System represents for a company that designs, builds, and tests racing engines might be con- sidered esoteric to some, but when RYE was asked the question, the answer was clear. “Force Measurement of our valve springs has pushed our development of high performance engines and has been key to our success, resulting in four out of seven NASCAR Cup Championships in the past seven years,” beamed English. Indisputable results to be sure. www.starrettmetrology.com/force www.starrett.com WFTI
Company Profile: The L.S. Starrett Company founded in 1880 and headquartered in Athol, MA, USA, is a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, optical comparators and vision systems and force and hardness testing solutions. Starrett also manu - factures laser measurement systems, custom-engi - neered granite solutions, custom gaging, band saw blades, power tool accessories, saw blades, workshop tools and jobsite tools. The Starrett brand is recog - nized throughout the world for exceptional quality and precision. Skilled personnel, superior products, manufacturing expertise, innovation and excellent service and support have earned Starrett its reputa - tion as the “World’s Greatest Toolmakers.” Starrett has over 1400 employees worldwide. The company has five manufacturing locations in the USA, in - cluding facilities in Massachusetts, Georgia, Ohio, Minnesota, and California. Starrett also has three international manufacturing facilities. Plants are lo - cated in Brazil, Scotland and China, in addition to distribution centers and offices located worldwide. www.starrett.com
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