Alan B. Pearce wrote:

>>> Sure, they're quite common. Just Google for "constant force spring".
>>
>>Thanks... knowing the right term is worth a lot :)
> 
> The sort of thing you are after is surely those "hang from roof" things they
> use for small power tools on production lines. 

Yes, something similar. 

> Not sure that they are not much more than a long soft spring of
> appropriate tension for the weight of the tool, and doesn't take a lot
> of pull from the operator to pull it down from the equilibrium position
> to the work piece.

Yes, the longer the spring, the closer it is to a constant force spring.
It's about a 1:2 ratio (ceiling to equilibrium position vs work position).
Maybe that's workable, if it's just the wires that I hang there. Won't work
well with a mini-drill or so, probably.

Thanks,
Gerhard

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist