Re: Lead screws and mill dust

I've been experimenting with making my own bellows. There is an
interesting patent, #6054194, (link below) which describes the optimal
fold patterns for a bellows made from a single sheet of material. The
patent shows how to minimise the shape distortion as the bellows
expands and contracts. Once folded, it holds its shape very well.

I've experimented with polypropylene sheet, as it has great "hinge"
characteristics. I started with some document folders from my local
office supplier to test different thickness of the plastic. I found
the thinner the better. I CADed up the pattern, printed it, then lay
the polypropylene over the sheet (the polypropylene I have is
translucent). I then used a scriber to scratch the fold lines and
fold the bellows.

Only yesterday I found polypropylene sheet sold by my local art supply
place - 1200x600x0.39mm sheets. Today I am planning to make a new tip
for my soldering iron and a guide so I can melt the fold lines into
the plastic instead of soldering. If that works, I will make the full
bellows.



patent link - http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?
Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-
bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=6054194.PN.&OS=PN/6054194&RS=P
N/6054194