A retaining ring is a fastener that holds components or assemblies onto a shaft or in a housing / bore when installed typically in a groove for one time use only. Once installed, the exposed portion acts as a shoulder which retains the specific component or assembly. Circlips are a type of retaining ring.
Retaining rings are typically made from carbon steel, stainless steel and may feature a variety of finishes for aesthetics and corrosion protection depending on the type of environment in which they are used.
Retaining rings can go by many names, including circlips, snap rings, e-rings, c-clips and more.
Retaining Rings, similar to Tapered Section Rings and Constant Section Rings, act as an artificial shoulder seated in a groove on a shaft or contained within a housing. Spiral Retaining rings are a coiled product allowing for flexibility in sizing and alloy selection
Spiral retaining rings are commonly used in in the automotive, aerospace, medical device, and consumer electronics industries, among others, to secure components in place and withstand high rotational speeds and pressures.
