Experimental Rectangular FlexBellow

thingiverse

A versatile bellow, suitable for use as damper, spring or hinge. Its massive ends ensure predictable behavior and feature indents that allow it to be reversibly locked into place with 3mm filament pieces for secure mounting. The design prioritizes air-tightness while providing access holes, but its stiffness prevents it from functioning effectively as a pneumatic actuator. However, when the holes are air-tightly sealed, the bellow exhibits an even more nonlinear spring character, earning it the nickname "air-spring." Its compact size eliminates concerns about compression-induced buckling. Additional details can be found in the accompanying *.scad file. A round variant of this design is also available: "Experimental Circular FlexBellow."