Summary

HOW TO: Model a spring

One quick method (of many and maybe not the best) for designing and printing custom compression springs.

There are lots of methods for making springs and as many different CAD packages.

Having said that, the basic principles are often very similar.

So, don't panic if this demo uses one CAD program and your using another. What's important is the basic steps.

Remember that you can resize and scale the spring model at any time. Changing the diameter of the starting cylinder will also give you different properties for the spring.

Here's a great link to the Khan academy lesson on spring physics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzwuHS9ldbY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVl5zs6Lqy0

BASIC STEPS TO MODEL A SPRING:

1. Create a cylinder or use a cylinder "primitive"
2. Extrude or sweep one end surface
3. Angle (Twist and turn) that surface
4. Extruding additional angled levels.

See steps in sequential images (above).

Here are two sets of x,y,z angles that demonstrate the process.

1. 20,20,10
2. 10,10,5

• Negative angles will reverse the direction of the coil.

Play around with these numbers and have fun.

Hope this is useful!

----- Parameters --------- Platform: Up!3D Resolution: 200 u, normal, 90% fill Material: ABS CAD:TrueSpace 7.61 Art-to-Part time: 30 minutes Design notes: Design seems acceptable with good spring qualities. Printing Tips: de-Rafting worked well. Slide knife along top and bottom of supports. ------- N/A ------------ CAM: N/A DeskProto CNC: N/A FlashCut Laser: N/A Venus