Intro to Millwright Practice Exam 2025 - Free Millwright Skills Practice Questions and Study Guide

Most retaining rings are made from spring steel due to its excellent mechanical properties that allow for flexibility and strength. Spring steel is specifically engineered to return to its original shape after being deformed, which is crucial for the functionality of retaining rings. These rings must maintain a secure hold on components while also accommodating slight changes in size or shape under load.

Spring steel's ability to withstand fatigue and resist deformation makes it ideal for applications where constant tension or compression is required, such as holding bearings in place within machinery. Additionally, spring steel can be heat-treated to enhance its strength and resilience further, ensuring the rings can perform effectively over a long period under varying operational conditions.

While materials like carbon steel can also be used in some applications, they do not offer the same level of flexibility and fatigue resistance that spring steel provides. Plastic and aluminum are typically not used for this purpose due to their limitations in strength and the need for the retaining ring to maintain a significant amount of load without permanent deformation.