Spring Cups for Bicycle QR Skewer Springs as Print Bed Springs

thingiverse

UPDATE: For optimal performance, use two springs for each adjustment screw. If there's one thing that's consistently infuriated me about 3D printing, it's the print bed levelling process. I'm not wealthy, and a manual bed was all I could afford (fixed income retiree, okay), and the springs provided are completely inadequate. Then I noticed a pair of skewer springs near my printer from a bicycle project. They're the same height as standard printer springs, they compress fully within themselves, and they have just the right amount of tension. The bike shed has been raided, and my printer is running as I type this. (It will be printed and fitted by the time you read this.) Even if your printer features an auto leveller, this modification may still be a useful upgrade, as conical springs also reduce wobble slightly. So, you don't ride a bike? Go to eBay, and take a look at the screenshot I've included - it's from an Australian supplier who is local to me. You can get them from Southeast Asia, and they'll cost even less, but US$2 per spring is an unbeatable price. Buy locally! Support job creation in your community. Feel free to customize the design; the openSCAD file is available for you to use as a starting point.