MakerGear M2 bed support spring

thingiverse

This cleverly designed device prevents hard drops of the Z stage on the MakerGear M2 when the motors are turned off and disengage. It is engineered to have enough flexibility to gently slow the Z stage to a halt, but not prevent the Z stage from being pushed all the way to its maximum extent if needed. The device fits snugly over the M2's frame base and snaps securely into place. It is designed to be printed in PETg, which has the right amount of strength and flexibility for the spring's thickness, width, and curvature as engineered. The original version worked but was incorrectly sized, so it has been deprecated and removed. There are now three versions: springcurve2, springcurve3, and springcurve4. Springcurve2 installs with the curve pointing toward the back; in this position the curve must be made narrower and is therefore stiffer. It remains untested. Springcurve3 is a recreation of Michael Hunter's Z axis return spring (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:615104), but with the ability to clip onto the frame base like the other springcurve models. However, I find that it exceeds the strain limit of the plastic and tends to permanently deform it. Springcurve4 installs with the curve pointing toward the front. It is a direct derivative of the original springcurve model, but correctly sized, and the front of the base conveniently snaps into place. This one has been installed and tested, and is the recommended model to use. Inspired by Michael Hunter's Z axis return spring (thing 61504).