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FreeCAD Parametric Springs !

► Several parameters are variable ► Wave count in 0.5 steps ► End options : Pad / Eye / Diamond
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updated April 18, 2025

Description

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Thanks to @Razzer09 and @3DPrinty for reminding me to have a go at parametric springs …
https://www.printables.com/model/534644 
https://www.printables.com/model/282561 

I was pleasantly surprised that parametric modelling on FreeCAD works quite well. While not having the power of a full Excel spreadsheet (as SolidWorks), the common maths functions one might need are possible, and it all feels correspondingly less heavy. Referencing the parameters into dimensions is a bit more clunky, but there's an autocomplete which makes things easier.

Notes

■ Each spring end-style has a separate FreeCAD model - find them in the subfolder

■ To edit parameters in FreeCAD look for the spreadsheet inside the model tree

Some combinations of parameters won't work. Look out for red exclamation marks in the model tree. Note that on FreeCAD, if the model fails to build then the 3D image will still show the previous ‘good’ geometry.

Change things more slowly if the model breaks: Changing parameters in a different sequence and/or in small increments can sometimes help. If you can't get back to an unbroken state, then begin again with the downloaded model.

■ Print these springs on rafts

■ I've printed them successfully in budget PLA, although the strain (stretchability) is limited. 
   For best results use a resilient material

Update 07/01/2025

I've updated the FreeCAD model  “Compr_Spring_Pad-Ends_20250107”  to fix an error spotted by Gábor Dániel Kormos (thanks!). The model failed if (H > Wp), but it's ok now.

Update 18/04/2025

FreeCAD models now updated for v1.0 . Opening the previous (v0.19) ones in v1.0 caused many of the parametric formulas to fall off. 
I think this might be because some of my parameter names were single-characters like “L”, which seem now to be reserved names in v1.0 . Hence I've renamed them, fixed the source models and updated the diagrams accordingly.
( The STLs still have old codes in the filenames :  L = Ls ;     H = Hs ;     T = Ts )
Thanks to Nerd² for pointing out this issue.

 

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