How to Make a Spring in SketchUp

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Create a circle using the Circle tool.

   With the line tool, draw a line and halve the circle.
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   Step 2: Use the Push/Pull tool and pull one of the half circles up.

   Hold down CTRL and pull up the circle again by the same distance.
   
   The screenshot shows them at 6 feet (6'). , Then go up to the top right of the two circles and click again.
   
   Draw out the arc to approximately match the other half of the circle. ,,,, Once you start to move it, press CTRL and moved a copy and move it a short bit away. , Click on the Rotate tool and put it on the end of the bottom arc. , Eye it and move it so that it is roughly in line with the other set of arcs. ,,, Do this until you have the size of coil that you want.
   
   Here is where you will know if you did something wrong with the shape of your first coil.
   
   If something is 'off'
   
   then your coil will be slanted. ,, Be sure that is perpendicular to the coil. , If you can't not select the circle, hold down SHIFT and deselect the circle. , This will complete the coil. , Do that until you like the look of it.
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   Step 3: Click on the Arc tool and at the bottom left of the two half circles

4. 4

   Step 4: click.

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   Step 5: Start deleting everything but the arc you just added.

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   Step 6: Make sure that you have the arc as shown in the screenshot.

7. 7

   Step 7: Select the arc

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   Step 8: click on the Move tool

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   Step 9: move it

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    Step 10: then hold down the CTRL key so that you are moving a copy.

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    Step 11: Select the set of arcs that you now have and then repeat the process from before.

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    Step 12: Rotate the ones that were just copied.

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    Step 13: Rotate the arcs about 180 degrees.

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    Step 14: With both of the arcs still selected

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    Step 15: connect them.

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    Step 16: Delete one of the two connected arcs so you have one complete 'coil'.

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    Step 17: Select the entire coil

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    Step 18: use the Move tool with CTRL and copy and connect.

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    Step 19: Select the whole spring and then click S. This will allow you to scale the coil to the size that you want.

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    Step 20: At the end of the coil

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    Step 21: add a small circle.

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    Step 22: Select the entire coil.

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    Step 23: Click on the Follow Me tool and then on the circle.

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    Step 24: Select the entire spring

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    Step 25: right click on it

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    Step 26: and then Soften/Smooth edges.

Detailed Guide

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