Official Answer
Answer
Centering a wave spring on a shaft is necessary to prevent 'wandering' during operation. If the spring is not centered, it can become eccentric to the load, causing uneven wear and potential noise (squeaking) as it rubs against the housing. A shaft pilot should be designed with a diameter $D_{pilot} = D_{id} - (0.010 \cdot f \cdot n^2 / D_m)$ to account for the radial contraction of the inner diameter as the spring is compressed. The pilot should have a lead-in chamfer of $15^{\circ}$ to $30^{\circ}$ to facilitate assembly. Without a centering feature, the spring may buckle slightly, shifting the load-deflection curve and reducing the effective fatigue life due to localized stress concentrations.
