Using Simple Springs
Use a simple spring to connect two points, two vertices, a point to a point on an edge or a surface, a point to a pattern of points, or a point to a single point feature. You need not specify an orientation for simple springs.
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You cannot define a zero-length simple spring.
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Use the following items in the Properties area of the Spring Definition dialog box to define a simple spring:
• Extensional Force-Deflection Variation—Specify whether the extensional stiffness of the spring is of constant stiffness or is defined by a force-deflection curve.
Select one of the following stiffness types:
◦ Constant Stiffness—Creates a spring with constant stiffness.
◦ Force-Deflection Curve—Creates a nonlinear spring with variable stiffness.
• Force Factor—Magnification factor that together with the force-deflection function defines extensional stiffness. This box is available only when you select Force-Deflection Curve. Type a nonnegative real number value for the force factor. Select the units of force from the adjacent drop-down list. The force-deflection curve function is multiplied by the force factor to give the value of extensional stiffness of the spring.
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The value of Force Factor cannot be negative. Additionally, it cannot be 0 when the Torsional Stiffness is 0.
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• Extensional Stiffness—The stiffness that resists the stretching or compression of the spring. You can type a real-number value or an expression that contains parameter names. Select units for the extensional stiffness from the drop-down list or accept the default unit.
• Torsional Stiffness—The stiffness that resists the twisting of the spring. You can type a real-number value or an expression that contains parameter names. Select units for the torsional stiffness from the drop-down list or accept the default unit.
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You can specify a torsional stiffness value only for 3D models.
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Extensional and torsional stiffness boxes are parameter-capable edit fields. They can accept Creo Parametric parameters as stiffness values, which you can select from a displayed list.
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If you are using a simple spring to join two parts, make sure that the parts are attached to each other, or they are constrained.
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