Macro Spring

Simulates the compression and decompression of a spring.

Uses

Open the 2 files below (Spring.FCMacro and Spring.FCStd) in FreeCAD with 2 screens (Menu: Windows → Tile) and click in the window and the macro then press F6 (debug macro) to run the macro or run the macro with

The File

Spring.FCStd

Script

Spring.FCMacro

import FreeCAD, FreeCADGui, Draft, Part
from FreeCAD import Base
import time

ii = iib = FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Pitch
i = ib = FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Height

pas = 1

for ii2 in range(int(60)):
    if pas == 0:
        if ii > iib-1:
            pas = 1
        else:
            ii += 1
            i = (ii * 10)
    else:
        if ii < 2:
            pas = 0
        else:
            ii -= 1
            i = (ii * 10)
   
    FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Pitch = ii
    FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Height = i
    App.Console.PrintMessage(str(ii2)+"  " + str(ii)+"  " + str(i)+"  " + str(pas) +"\n")
    Gui.updateGui()
    time.sleep(0.1) # modify the time here
#FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Pitch = iib
#FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Height = ib 

Code for FreeCAD version 0.15

# For FreeCAD 0.15
import FreeCAD, FreeCADGui, Draft, Part
from FreeCAD import Base
import time

ii = iib = FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Pitch.Value
i = ib = FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Height.Value

pas = 1

for ii2 in range(int(60)):
    if pas == 0:
        print pas
        if ii > iib-1:
            pas = 1
        else:
            ii += 1
            i = (ii * 10)
            print i," ",ii," else1"
    else:
        print pas
        if ii < 2:
            pas = 0
        else:
            ii -= 1
            i = (ii * 10)
            print i," ",ii," else2"
    FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Pitch.Value = ii
    FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Height.Value = i
#    App.Console.PrintMessage(str(ii2)+"  " + str(ii)+"  " + str(i)+"  " + str(pas) +"\n")
    Gui.updateGui()
    time.sleep(0.1) # modify the time here
#FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Pitch.Value = iib
#FreeCAD.getDocument("Spring").getObject("Helix001").Height.Value = ib 

Link

The forum discussion page: scripting animations