[nixiebunny]

Back in the 1700s, watches kept time better by using a fusee to compensate for the weaker spring as it wound down, by changing the 'gear ratio' between the spring and the works. The fusee is a cone with a track for a chain, so that the sprocket's effective diameter changes as the mainspring's winding-down progresses.

I thought today about making a fusee for our winch, to stretch the surgical tubing 'spring' faster at first, then slow down (increase the reduction ratio) as it gets further along in the stretching process, as the force required increases.

Am I nuts? Could I print a fusee on my 3D printer and stick it on the winch shaft?