Dennis Brown: Top side bed switches: Bending the springs - psmay/mpmd-notes GitHub Wiki
Source
The original version of this came from https://www.facebook.com/groups/mpminideltaowners/permalink/2469844073031064/, written by Dennis Brown, as it was 2021-03-31. Refer to that post for updated information and comments. Some reformatting has been applied (its correctness is not guaranteed).
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How to make springs for the upgraded MPMD bed switches seen in this post:
Dennis Brown: Top side bed switches
- 3D Print the spring bending fixture on a working printer.
The OpenSCAD text for this object is in the first comment. The OpenSCAD file is here:
BedClipSpringFixture.scad (Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mpminideltaowners/permalink/2470705542944917/)
The .stl file is here:
BedClipSpringFixture.stl (Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mpminideltaowners/permalink/2470709502944521/)
- Bend new bed springs from jumbo paper clips. They are the jumbo size, made from shiny smooth 1mm thick steel wire. They are about 46-47mm (1.84") long.
I bought a box of 100 AACO Recycled Jumbo Paper Clips from the local Walmart store. You can probably find some in your desk drawer. I found ones on Amazon, but the quantities were too high to be practical unless you have an urgent need for 1000 jumbo paperclips.
You can see in the pictures how to wrap them around the fixture (also read picture captions). Clip the excess end off with wire clippers. You can use some small needle nosed pliers to flatten them out if they do not sit flat on you desk top.
As seen in the picture of three springs, the top is then bent upwards, then push it flat and it will spring back up to about the right position. Then tweak it a little bit higher so it is about 12.7mm (0.5") high.
These springs will clip around the base of the binder clip hold downs.
There are two screw holes at the bottom of the fixture. These are to screw the fixture to a small board or 2x4 if your hand strength is not enough to hold it while bending the wire around the posts. Position the upper left corner of the fixture at the upper left corner of the board. You can also clamp the board to a workbench.
Images
- 46346653_1908705149242552_3200119689174843392_n.jpg https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1908705145909219&set=pcb.2469844073031064
Loading the paperclip onto the fixture. It must be oriented as shown.
- 46384945_1907957259317341_4721456805463457792_n.jpg https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1907957255984008&set=pcb.2469844073031064
Bend the paperclip around the posts as shown. Takes a bit of finger strength.
- 46492682_1907957435983990_5912444837142986752_n.jpg https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1907957429317324&set=pcb.2469844073031064
Last bend. Then remove from the fixture. Flatten the spring if needed. Then clip where the bent wire comes together.
- 46474662_1907957665983967_1250413216366854144_n.jpg https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1907957655983968&set=pcb.2469844073031064
Final parts after clipping and bending the spring up.
- 46457940_1908706015909132_8690962616622776320_n.jpg https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1908706012575799&set=pcb.2469844073031064
Binder clip bed hold down part screwed down to a plate to show how the spring clips on to it. It will not clip on to an uninstalled part.
