Distressed Nerd: Alternative to thin spring steel? 6

[DistressedNerd]

Figure out a solution and I will name my pet hamster after you.

Can anyone tell me a plastic or cheaper to manufacturer alternative to this design - 7'' diameter circle made out of spring steel wire that easily deforms and returns to circle shape. It needs to able to simply crumple it up in your hand and then release and it springs back to original shape.

Please see video for more information (in the video it is enclosed in fabric)- Link

 

[tbuelna]

DistressedNerd-

I wish to submit a formal objection to your publicly stated decision to rename your pet hamster 3DDave. While 3DDave did a good job of pointing out a spring design commonly used for foldable fabric sunshades (ie a C-shaped steel spring wound from rectangular section wire) that could potentially be adapted for the application in question, I did not see any evidence provided that such a spring would meet the criteria listed in the OP of being a "....cheaper to manufacturer alternative to this design - 7'' diameter circle made out of spring steel wire that easily deforms and returns to circle shape."

I, for one, do not take the bestowing of honorary titles upon members of the species Mesocricetus auratus lightly. I expect this decision process to be fair, objective and open. Obviously 3DDave is an honorable title any hamster would be proud of, as long as it was received legitimately. But if I were a pet hamster I could not imagine the mental anguish of spending the entire 24 months of my adult life suffering from the stigma that my honorary title was not legitimate. I would be ostracized by my fellow members of the rodent community, banished to undesirable sections of the Habitrail, and never again be allowed to experience the sheer joy of running on the treadmill.

Thus I respectfully request that you reconsider your decision regarding renaming your pet hamster. If you can provide evidence that 3DDave's proposal meets the criteria set forth in the OP then I will gladly withdraw my objection. If nothing else, think about the impact this decision will have on your pet hamster's future quality of life.

Best regards,
Terry

ps. You can get custom wound circular springs made from rectangular section steel wire in small quantity, and often with no tooling charges, from the Smalley Co. I have ordered prototype quantities of custom wound rectangular section wire wave springs from Smalley many times, there was no tooling charge and they were great to work with.

 

[btrueblood]

Ditto Smalley, great company.

Another source for thin strips would be

http://www.McMaster.com:

1095 spring-tempered steel:

0.015" Thick (±0.001") 1/8"W 25'L 9075K51 $28.58 100'L 9036K772 $69.28
0.020" Thick (±0.0015") 1/8"W 25'L 9075K73 31.41 100'L 9036K809 70.29
0.028" Thick (±0.0025") 1/8"W 25'L 9075K104 31.41 100'L 9036K846 71.42

 

[DistressedNerd]

Thanks for the referrals for where to get small quantities of wire & strip spring steel - however I was looking for a place to get real small quantities like 5 feet.

 

[greencircle]

If you want to try, McMaster would give away small as engineering sample

 

[1gibson]

Check ebay, but honestly, when someone gives you a link and part number for exactly what you asked and it's only $30, that's about as good as it gets.