Customizable spring

thingiverse

This is a highly adaptable spring. While less durable than its steel counterpart, it remains fully functional. Feel free to experiment with the customizer to modify its dimensions and elastic properties. I selected this pseudo washer design because I envisioned a spiral configuration as potentially less sturdy, and wanted to avoid designs that impose rotational tension on the spring, thus allowing it to support only vertical forces. Parameter selection is crucial for each type of spring, as it can be tailored to produce either high-elastic springs with impressive compression ratios or low-compression springs with robust stability. Conduct your own proof-of-concept, keeping in mind that these plastic springs are inherently dependent on the material used for printing, which affects their elastic, thermal, and hardness properties. Generally speaking, this type of spring will exhibit a relatively low compression ratio and poor shock resistance due to its plastic composition; however, semiflex materials can be experimented with to produce milder force springs while maintaining some level of shock proofing. Remember that low temperatures significantly increase the fragility of plastic. For optimal results, I recommend printing these springs horizontally with buildplate support only, as this minimizes bridge generation and eases support removal. Printing vertically, if possible, will yield a more suitable structure for the spring. Enjoy experimenting!