Better way to make a spring
What should be simple took forever, and has many problems. How do you make a mag spring like I just posted in my models. The way I came up with seems overly complicated to get this done.
Accepted answer
That's too much work.
You can speed the process up a tiny bit by using the "Circular Profile" option when sweeping. With it you won't have to keep drawing circles for profiles.
Further gains can be made by using patterns. Just make one "rotation". Pattern the rest, then do the end treatments.
I know my results are not the correct shape, but I think it can be fine tuned with some trial and error. The good news is it only takes a few minutes to form the spring. I'll post steps in a few minutes.
Edit:
An extrusion to represent the shape of the spring. Then a Sweep with twist to form the helix. A 3D sketch using Intersection Curve to find the interface between the two bodies. Finally a Sweep with the Circular Profile option to form the spring.
There's a little wiggle on the sides of the spring. Once that is resolved I think this is a good approach to form most of the spring. But forming one coil and patterning is still a valid option with this method too.
