Fusion 360 Spiral Torsion Spring Tutorial

[@IonNight]

What a cumbersome way to make a spiral. Just make a coil and choose the spiral in the drop down menu option called "type".

[@3DPrinty]

Yup, I mentioned that in the video description and in several comments. KZbin doesn't support editing videos, or I would have added a note to that effect. Keep in mind that the coil tool defines the spiral from the inside-out. Choose whichever method fits your needs. As for myself, I would need to project the results onto a sketch either way and have a predefined outer dimension.

[@jorel973]

You make it look so easy, hope you do more of these in the future, Thanks

[@3DPrinty]

Will do! I'm still learning new stuff all the time, so if something looks like it might be useful, I'll share it.

[@tbren6707]

Great explanation! I knew I'd enjoy your Fusion video. I haven't used the coil or spiral options much, but I'd imagine being able to work with the constraint of your outside diameter makes things much much easier. Excited to throw some designs together with this! Will share if any of them turn out. Have you found any specific thicknesses that seem to consistently give good results?

[@3DPrinty]

I hope to see what you make! I think 2mm is a good starting point, but it really comes down to the requirements of the project.

[@jamesseager3985]

Is there a way to change the angle of the coil near the top? Great video btw 😀

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks! Do you mean having two different angles for the coil? You can easily change the overall angle, but if you want the top to have a different angle than the bottom, I believe you'd have to create 2 springs and merge them. It wouldn't be too difficult, provided your okay with the angle change being sudden.

[@JakeMcIvor]

If you look in Prusa Slicer in the Print Settings Tab, under Vertical Shells, it will list the recommended thin wall thickness for different numbers of perimeters for a given nozzle. e.g. for 0.4 mm nozzles, 4 lines is 1.67 mm, 6 lines is 2.49 mm. You can use these values instead of 4 mm / 1.5 mm in your model.

[@3DPrinty]

Excellent point! In fact, your tip is extremely relevant for a video I'm posting in just over a week!

[@121Zales]

I'm looking around for different types, materials, and printability parameters for torsion springs. You have an awesome technique! Thanks for posting.

[@tylerakehurst6369]

Hey so it looks like Fusion 360 might have a new feature under the Coil option, if you change type to Spiral it flattens it for you now.

[@3DPrinty]

Yup! It turns out that feature was already there. However you might still want to use my weird workaround if you're specifying the OD of the diameter or doing anything fancy in the sketch that a "spiral coil" can't. Still, for a basic spiral, it's good to have that option. Thanks!

[@Sherlock_Ohms]

In the Coil “Type” dropdown there is the option to select a Spiral. Or am I missing something?

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks Mike! I added that to the video description earlier and mentioned it in a few comments below. If you're making a plain spiral. what you described is definitely the faster option! If you plan to create a sketch to alter the shape, it's the same number of steps - so I suppose that comes down to what makes the most sense for you. I like defining the outer diameter and working in.

[@brianriddle8389]

Thank you for this!

[@3DPrinty]

Welcome! I hope it proves useful!

[@studioeffects]

I recently installed Fusion 360 so I'm really new to it. Thanks for this video, it's really helpful.

[@3DPrinty]

Happy to help! There's always more to discover in this huge program!

[@weisnowhere]

That face at the end!!! Just getting into tourbillons and they are so much fun. Gonna play with your technique and some parametric variations! Thanks a ton!

[@3DPrinty]

Welcome! I've updated the video description with a tweak that may save you a step (depending on how much you plan to alter the spiral)

[@ChristianCeciliano]

Loved it! Thanks for sharing

[@3DPrinty]

Always happy to help!

[@K1L0W0G]

I'm looking for some solution to make a wheel be able to rotate 540º to the left and also 540º to the right, but if no force is applied, the wheel returns to the center. Do you believe this type of spring can solve my problem?

[@3DPrinty]

Possibly, although I would consider adding a reduction gear with a magnet, so that the reduction gear only moves about 90 degrees in either direction and the magnet helps pull it back to perfect center. Another option might be using a rack and pinion mechanism with a spring on either end of the rack. Both springs will try to find equilibrium and return the rack to its neutral position.

[@Sobler1]

You're amazing for sharing this. Thanks!

[@moshibass]

More Fusion 360 tutorials please!!

[@3DPrinty]

Sure thing! I'll keep an eye out for tips and tricks that would make for a good video.

[@jasonshallcross2741]

Hey, I really love your designs, they're always so clever! I've designed quite a few practical things around the home, but I do wish I knew about the engineering side of things, like different types of hinges, connectors, etc. I don't want to do a 3 year course on mechanical engineering studying dams and bridges though, I just want the 3D model side of things - any suggestions? Also, love the calm music and voice over! :)

[@3DPrinty]

Glad you like the projects! The engineering half of my designs are largely from taking random stuff apart. I also supplement that with a lot of Google searching and 3D printed trial and error. If you haven't checked these out already, I'd recommend: - kzbin.infovideos - 507movements.com - And the most influential book of my childhood, The Way Things Work by David Macaulay - Taking apart anything that interests you that isn't too expensive to lose.

[@jasonshallcross2741]

@@3DPrinty Great! thanks very much, I'll check those out.

[@herrdoctor896]

I know it might be a bit too much to ask of you but, any chance to have the spiral spring in collada file? I’m using sketchup make pro 2017 as cad program and i need to make a simple animation with a spiral spring and yours look awesome, so thats why i’m asking or simpler perhaps, 10 pictures of the spring in diferent positions from fully strechted to fully “tight down” so i can draw the lines over each image, i hope is not too much to ask, thanks.

[@3DPrinty]

Unfortunately, collada is not a file time available for me to export. About 30 seconds into this video, I show the spring under various degrees of tension. Perhaps you can use frames from that to trace what you're looking for?

[@suburbansamurai3560]

A smart workaround to get a spiral, but I can't believe there aren't any more streamlines solutions! Does Fusion 360 allow for user created addons? Or is there any way to program in actions, like photoshop, that could run through the process of making the spiral coil automagically?

[@3DPrinty]

There are tons of Fusion 360 plugins, but I'd rather not install them. I updated the video description with an alternate way to directly generate a spiral spring, but I prefer this goofy work around because you can define the outside edge of the spiral first.

[@robinsonrobinsone6201]

But why We cant see how it works :)

[@Heile1965]

Just great. Thank you. I‘d like to do some projects to test the possibilities of these kinds of springs. Thank you.

[@3DPrinty]

Welcome! I hope you find some cool uses for them!

[@nickf3242]

Excellent tutorial! I'm sad I can't hit the like button any harder for kitty appearances. Cute ending.

[@3DPrinty]

Getting Zelda on camera is tricky, but I'll try my best to get her some video time!

[@Catboy-hr2qp]

Im trying to make a 3d printed drop away arrow rest, this just solved my biggest hurdle

[@3DPrinty]

Glad to hear it - good luck with the design!

[@richelliott9414]

Just noticed, when modifying the coil, you can select spiral as the type. Don't know if that's a new thing in Fusion?

[@3DPrinty]

Haha, yeah... I learned about that option almost immediately after posting the video. Oops! That said, I still use the technique presented here whenever I need to build a torsion spring with a specific outer dimension. The spiral option within the coil tool works the other way around - you can't define an outer dimension (yet). That's fine for some cases, but not always suitable for what I need.

[@jonjohns7080]

Yo you should do a lot more fusion videos, I just started am I’m terrible but this made this look so much easier

[@3DPrinty]

I'm very glad it helped! If I can dig up some other techniques I use that might be useful to others, I'll be sure to add them to the video ideas list :)

[@julesinspaaace]

With the taper, couldn't you just set the height to 0 and not have to use the projection?

[@3DPrinty]

Unfortunately, the coil breaks when it has no height, so you do have to set some value. You also can't set the height too high of the taper will converge too early. That said, I've updated the video description with an alternate method that'll save you a step (if you're modeling a plain spiral).

[@augurelite]

This is very clever! And the fillet in the middle definitely is gonna increase fatigue life! :)

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks - that definitely sounds right!

[@zn123m]

I am following the video. But Wait. I just find out that you can change the coil type to spiral, and it is flat. I am new to coil and what is happening.

[@3DPrinty]

It's quite hidden, but yes! Unfortunately, there still isn't a spiral drawing tool. So, if you want a spiral within your design's sketches, you will still need to take the long way around to get there. Another setback with the coil option is that it (currently) doesn't let you set an outer diameter.

[@mayhemsmiley]

Hey 3D Printy, just wanted to say thank you for the tutorial and tell you fantastic delivery of the material.

[@JoanMendoza]

Awesome tutorial, Thanks!

[@3DPrinty]

Happy to help!

[@richelliott9414]

Great tutorial, thanks! really good work around for the torsion spring and love your applications! Subscribed :)

[@13msoliva]

The 'issue' with the movie of the cat and its best toy, is the ultraviolet light of the phone... thx for the tutorial...

[@akiraho8727]

Nice ~ Thank you for the tutorial.

[@3DPrinty]

Glad you like it!

[@emilybjoerk]

In coil type, just select "spiral" instead.

[@3DPrinty]

Yup, I mentioned this in the video description :) That works well, but I still use this technique when creating a spiral with a specified outer dimension - something the spiral option doesn't (currently) provide.

[@remiilatte]

That’s a really interesting and creative way of working around the limitations of fusion 360. Thank you for taking the time to explain the idea and reasoning behind the design. You make it really helpful and easy to learn - please make more tutorials :) My fusion 360 ability is pretty limited and would love to be able to improve. I love how you incorporated it into a functional print at the end as well. What a lucky kitty! 🐈‍⬛

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks! Fusion 360 is a huge program, so there's always more to learn. I'm still discovering new techniques and improved methods all the time. For example, check the video description for an alternate way of generating spirals that I didn't know 24 hours ago! Zelda is mostly uninterested in my 3D prints, but I keep trying designs out in hopes of making something as enjoyable as a crumpled ball of foil.

[@fireworm91]

man, you have just thought me how to make hourglass springs, thank you so much...

[@titokati]

You are a genius, I love you!

[@3DPrinty]

Far from it, but thank you!

[@MakerBees333]

Thank you! Always a great video. 👍

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks! Had to share this "one weird trick".

[@MakerBees333]

@@3DPrinty I caught that single frame in the 8min of intentional disobedience where she winked… dead giveaway she knew what was up. My small dogs do the same thing to communicate when they understand, one quick reciprocal wink. 😉

[@darylliney70]

Can anyone point to a tutorial for the spiral at 0:31

[@3DPrinty]

The 3-arm spring used in the Twist Lock Box? For that I used the same technique shown in this video, but I made the the spiral very loose and then duplicated it twice (rotating 120 degrees per duplicate). Once I had the 3 arms, I merged them together and used the fillet tool to soften the sharp point where the arms meet - that's a potential stressor that I wanted to avoid. If you're asking for more details on the box itself, I cover that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57Ymqh-n95_orc

[@darylliney70]

@@3DPrinty thank you for your reply. I appreciate your content.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Nice tips. Thanks.

[@3DPrinty]

Glad it helped!

[@Samtheman676]

i printed your cat toy. thank you

[@3DPrinty]

Welcome! I hope your cat enjoys it - I find that my own cat has very unpredictable preferences when it comes to what 3D prints interest her :p

[@tany0188]

just what i needed thanks

[@3DPrinty]

Glad it helped!

[@Volcanooo]

Dood very cool video. Make more

[@affinnen]

Good idea to use the coil

[@keysimfr]

Change the type to "spiral" in the coil pop-up and you are done ^^

[@keysimfr]

You edited it, sorry, didn't saw :)

[@davidruggiero6284]

Thank you!

[@3DPrinty]

Welcome :)

[@MasterChi__]

FEARLESS! 0:25

[@3DPrinty]

Got to take the BIG RISKS when making content!

[@ollieoniel]

Clever.

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks! It's a goofy solution, but it works!

[@KnotHead1008]

Clever.

[@Spectreye]

I knew this trick since i had to do a spiral too, very nice to see how you do it nonetheless ! Hope to see more :-)

[@3DPrinty]

Thanks so much - it's a weird, but helpful trick. I also JUST LEARNED that the coil menu has a "Spiral" option buried at the bottom of the "Type" menu. If you need to make a plain spiral and don't plan to sketch anything off of it, that'll save you a step.