Z-axis auto adjusting fixture device

Question

I am looking for a mechanism that would allow me to support a fixture attached to a 3-axis motorized stage. I have attached a picture of my current design. I trying to design/incorporate some sort of hardware that will support the green fixture to travel in the z-axis as the grey stage moves during its analysis procedure. I originally tried a lab top scissor lift but that requires me to manually adjust the stage. I was thinking of a gas spring platform but wasn’t sure how to incorporate it properly. Any ideas?

fixture example

design mechanical

Daniel K · Answer

A normal spring will not work, because as you move it, the force changes. Beyond a certain point, the force will get so high that your positioning stage has to fight the spring, i.e. the spring will be making the load on the stage higher, not lower. What you want instead is called a "constant force spring". As the name says, it will exert a constant force over a fairly wide range of motion. For example

and many other manufacturers as well.

https://www.leespring.com/learn-about-constant-force-springs
http://www.vulcanspring.com/conforce-constant-force-springs  
http://www.centuryspring.com/constant-force

and many other manufacturers as well.

Z-axis auto adjusting fixture device

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