Springs are common items used in thousands of applications, from the production of simple consumer goods to the automotive, aerospace, and biomedical industries. Regardless of a spring's end use application, extensive testing is required to ensure that they exhibit the desired mechanical qualities - namely stiffness and strength - that allow them to perform successfully. There are three primary types of springs designed for different types of applied force: compression, tension, and torsion. This guide will specifically look at helical compression springs, because they make up the majority of testing