FreeCAD: Draw a Flat Torsion Spring

[last updated: 2021-02-22]
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JWID:
• Open a new drawing
• Part > Create Primitives
• click drop-down in top field (default will be Plane)
• select Spiral
• in Parameters, enter whatever desired. I used:
  • Note: growth is approx the spacing between rotations
    Radius is at the start of the spiral

  • rev.01:
    Growth = 4 mm
    Rotations = 5
    Radius = 1 mm
  • rev.02:
    Growth = 5 mm
    Rotations = 10
    Radius = 3 mm
• click Create, then Close
• Part Design > Create Sketch
• select XZ Plane, click OK
• Draw desired profile:
  • rev.01:
    a rectangle, 1mm x 3mm high
    anchored it to horiz axis and 2mm from vertical axis
  • rev.02:
    rectangle: 2mm x 5mm
    not anchored, but positioned above plane of spiral,
    and it worked
• Part > Sweep
  under Available profiles, select sketch
  click Right Arrow to move it to Selected profiles
• click Sweep path
  click spiral in drawing,
  click Done
• click Create Solid, click OK
• rev.02:
  added hook at outer end
• Mesh Design
  click Sweep in Model tree
  rev.02:
  hold shift and select any other sketches you want included in final part

  Meshes > Create mesh from shape
  select Standard options, click OK

• Export mesh:
  right-click Sweep in model tree, select export
  rev.02:
  hold shift and select all meshes desired
  Meshes > Merge
  A new mesh will be created
  right-click and export it for final model

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