# Spherical Spring

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823>\
**Category:** Share your creations\
**Created:** [March 11, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823 "2021-03-11T19:59:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/1 "2021-03-11T19:59:33Z")

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Recently I was struggling on a design where I needed a shape like a “Spherical Spring”. Failed many times so I took to YouTube to find the answer.

After watching a video for SolidWorks on “[Spring Ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWHfoZomsCw&ab_channel=CADCAMTUTORIAL)” something clicked and now I feel like I can make a spring in nearly any shape I need. You might say I caught Spring Fever (I am not above bad dad jokes).

I made this 7-minute video for others who may have similar needs:

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/f/f73c848d16040727f6aaa6ec485a1e1b0f113f64.jpeg "Spring Fever with Shapr3D") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaD_F27fIxE)

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/2 "2021-03-12T01:19:12Z")

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Chris,  
Well done! Kudos to you!  
This will definitely come in handy.  
Thanks, Mike

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**Author:** ![NathanD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@NathanD](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/NathanD)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/3 "2021-03-12T01:36:26Z")

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Very cool, makes me think of this:

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/a/ad0b19d8a1ed3b723155884922f91e99637cc085.jpeg)

That’s a neat trick to build techniques off of.

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**Author:** ![JoelM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eada6e/32.png) [@JoelM](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/JoelM)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/4 "2021-03-12T15:12:13Z")

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Well done, Yepher. I learned a couple of clever techniques watching your excellent video.

Thanks for sharing.

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/5 "2021-03-12T15:29:43Z")

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Glad it helps, the thing I am trying to figure out now is how to make a “drooping spring”.

 ![IMG_1401.PNG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/b/ba8713c3681a3d8da0b3f75808c90876b051a59a.jpeg)

 ![IMG_1402](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/0/0d70cdca073291ce5ee36dbaef355156a4613c88.png)

I would like the filament here to sway between the two electrodes. I know I can copy and rotate and butt two together but looking for some other way to do it. Still searching for a way to do it.

I really wish I could revolve along a spline curve.

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/6 "2021-03-12T15:47:36Z")

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@Yepher Is it possible to create an object and rotate spring around it?

Other than symmetrical shapes I mean.

Your best bet is conical spring, it’s been mentioned here many times

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/7 "2021-03-12T15:54:46Z")

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@MrJack88 The only way I’ve figured out so far is along straight path or where the “spring” has the same origin along a straight path. The three examples in the video was a break-through for me but all those are curved along the same Y-Axis where really just the radius changes. Conical spring is an example of this and is easy with this technique.

Revolve is not like sweep (although I wish it was). Sweep can work with a projected line or spline. Revolve does not handle that (from what I can tell).

I though maybe sweep (or loft) a circle but can’t figure out how I would cut the spiral.

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/8 "2021-03-12T16:06:38Z")

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Yes I feel the same  
But I think shapr3d will be there eventually.

It’s a new app, so It does work other ways to give you close results of what you want for now.

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/9 "2021-03-12T16:08:52Z")

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@MrJack88 Oh, you’ve given me an idea… Thanks I _think_ I know how to solve this…

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/10 "2021-03-12T16:09:44Z")

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Uhm… Glad to help 😄

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/11 "2021-03-12T16:12:15Z")

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@Yepher are you an electrician?

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/12 "2021-03-12T16:14:57Z")

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No, just trying to learn Shapr3D and 3D design better to support my 3D printing hobby/addiction 😉

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:16pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/13 "2021-03-12T16:16:56Z")

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@Yepher haha I see  
I liked the bluetooth hud you made … Amazing 👍

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/14 "2021-03-12T16:21:14Z")

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Thanks! I added a joystick and really like that better than buttons. I wish there were a key binding to rotate 90°. Half press would rotate and full swing would be to Top, Left, Right, Bottom etc and center click is “default orientation”. Working on a KiCad schematic now and fixing some bugs in the bluetooth driver but it works pretty good now for Mac/iPad.

 ![IMG_8560](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/4/4298bb6e7eea12b268a1eecf12d0b63b41d66bdb.jpeg)

I think for this to be super usable I would need more “key bindings” in shapr3d. Unfortunately I only have time to work on this stuff in evening and weekends so it is slow and stead progress usually.

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**Author:** ![Laci\_K](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/laci_k/32/8196_2.png) [@Laci\_K](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Laci_K)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/15 "2021-03-12T16:25:02Z")

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> [@Yepher](#):
>
> I think for this to be super usable I would need more “key bindings” in shapr3d.

You are pushing us hard 😅 But it will come 😉

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/16 "2021-03-12T16:25:11Z")

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@Yepher Very nice  
Consider it as prototype.  
Work on everything.  
You’ll end up creating something people will need and will buy.

A joystick is a great idea also 👍

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**Author:** ![NathanD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@NathanD](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/NathanD)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/17 "2021-03-12T19:39:09Z")

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I made a drooped spring out of 4 separate small sections, angled, with the ends matched back up using align.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/9/9e1f4aa1367046139e73ef938d69f2433e6c787e.jpeg)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/5/5bcd4a163749d5c6cbdfb96769f29b5334bce8bd.jpeg)

Edit: Revolving on a spline would be great. You can see in this picture where there is larger gaps at the point the spring sections meet each other.

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**Author:** ![MrJack88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/mrjack88/32/8138_2.png) [@MrJack88](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MrJack88)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/18 "2021-03-12T19:41:13Z")

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@NathanD very nice

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**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/19 "2021-03-12T19:41:34Z")

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> [@Yepher](#):
>
> I know I can copy and rotate and butt two together but looking for some other way to do it.

Thank you @NathanD that maybe the best way to do it. I was hoping for some other method but I think you have the current best solution there.

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**Author:** ![NathanD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@NathanD](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/NathanD)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823/20 "2021-03-12T19:43:23Z")

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@Yepher I missed that you had suggested this method.

Revolving on a spline would be the ticket.

[Next page](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/spherical-spring/11823.md?page=2)