Printed Springs

prusaprinters

<p>Sometimes the design needs a compression or tension spring for optimum operation.&nbsp; And, it would be convenient to be able to print that spring instead of scrounging for an external part for later assembly.&nbsp; As shown in the cover photo, here is an example of a spring incorporated into a design.&nbsp; This is the sear spring used in the <a href="https://www.printables.com/model/261338-rubber-band-gun-with-selectable-semi-or-full-auto-">Rubber Band Gun – with Selectable Semi- or Full Auto- Mode</a>&nbsp; .&nbsp;Note: It took me most of a whole afternoon to get the math right but the module design can still fail if crazy parameter values are plugged in.&nbsp;</p><p>//<br>// &nbsp; x,z = outside dimensions<br>// &nbsp; gap = spacing between bars<br>// &nbsp; end = x top/bottom fill between bars<br>// &nbsp; bar = thickness of bar<br>// &nbsp; ang = angle of bar to X axis (+ compression - tension)<br>// &nbsp; n = number of sections<br>//<br>&nbsp; module spring(x,z,gap,end,bar,ang,n)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There are three options for implementing this technique (ranked with the best option first).&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>First, if you use OpenSCAD as the design tool, just copy this SCAD module into your design, set your spring parameters in the module call and include the spring into the design using Rotates and Translates.</p><p>Second, if you don’t use OpenSCAD in designing.&nbsp; Download OpenSCAD, run the Springs.scad file, set your spring parameters (examples at the bottom of the file), generate an STL file for your spring and import it into your favorite design program.</p><p>Third, import one of the example STL files into your favorite design program and cut, paste, stretch, and/or massage it into what you need.</p>