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[PyroDesu]

Disengage mechanism? The safety of the springs will be done by limiting the amount they can stretch (For the Tension Springs in the arms) by their housing, stopping them before they get to a dangerous level of tension. Now I did think of compression springs in the arms, but I was only thinking of them as a counter to the tension springs so that my arm isn't always bent when I don't have a load. And yes, industrial grade will be a requirement.

Could you explain a little more for the compression spring's purpose?
And as to why a complicated disengage system is needed when the springs aren't supposed to disengage, just go back to a relaxed state when the weight is non-existent, and the safety is done by the housing?

I do like your criticism, I just can't get exactly what you're trying to say here.

And as to that Japanese design, probably not what mine would look like (I think my design would be a little more compact/not lifting you off the ground very much, and the relaxed arm state will be your arms folded against your upper arm. Their design will probably allow for greater movement though. (Also, bear in mind that I am not an engineering student nor engineer. I rate my engineering knowledge as basic, I haven't even taken classes for this stuff.))

[counting]

What I had in mind is more like an "energy storing" mechanism. That before you moving a heavy object, you used your own muscle to compress and extend the springs (slowly or using some form of levers). Than you can used these stored energy to "power up" the object, than somehow locks into position when weight is applied.

In the process, dampening is needed, since human can't preciously judge the exact amount of force required (like in HAL it required computers do calculate that), hence there should always extra energy stored in the springs. (If not enough, you can't even lifted the objects). Hence dropping the weight will cause extra energy release from the springs. (Perhaps a pre-operation dampening is also required, or if energy stored in springs releases to quickly, the objects would be launched into the air)

And a pair wise springs is just mimicking human muscles, and also more durable and requires less strong springs. However the mechanism of protection must in place. And a fixed extend/compress maximum is probably a good idea for metal stress protection, but not the same safety issues I was talking about.

[PyroDesu]

So basically, to allow me to actually lift it? I think that's what the Tension Spring is for.

Here's what I have so far spring-wise for the arm:
1 Tension Spring
2 Compression springs either side of the main (Tension) Spring
All welded to the arm plates, and housed in a Titanium Aluminide container attached to the arm plates by ball bearings.
The arm plates are quarter inch thick Titanium Aluminide plates with pure Titanium rebar welded to the lengthwise (For the Upper Arm) and A shorter version of the upper arm plate welded to greaves that have also been reinforced with Titanium rebar.

[Nospherat]

Ok, see this?

This is a professional steadycam. I've worked with something similar, and they are awesome. (They don't help you lift more, the purpose is different but the principle is similar)

This, on the other hand, is a home-made steadycam, and it's a helluva lot closer to anything you may be able to build.
http://www.midian.ch/Decouverte/Bignoze/Steadycam%202a.jpg
(This guy in the picture above, by the looks of it, did an almost decent job. )
However, some other fellow I know built something ... less technologically impressive and nearly got himself eviscerated by the darn thing. He required hospitalization, about 30 stitches, and he got really up close and personal with his inner workings, if you get my drift.

Don't play with large tension springs. Unless you want your entrails to become extrails.

I'd much rather use a pneumatic device.
Sure, it can still rip your arm clear off your socket, if you mess up. It may still explode and shrapnel you to death. But air pressure CAN be controlled via a number of pneumatic regulators.

Springs... no. You can't control springs. They are wild, unpredictable, they like to form sharp hooked edges when they snap, sharp hooks that tend to embed themselves into your skin, and open it like a darned zipper.

Stay safe, damn it.

[counting]

It's what I meant that industrial level springs have safety measures for a good reason. But if you are experimenting designs with prototypes, you can just use much small springs commercially available.

And pneumatic mechanism has a down side that it generate less force than say like hydraulic system and springs in the same size. In the scale of human arm length under safety pressure, it generates much less force than human muscle (Although a lot faster). When things going superhuman strength, what ever kind of energy storing and releasing mechanism are all equally dangerous. (Hydraulic are comparably the safest, since it's often much slower. But also the heaviest.)

Tension and expansion springs are relatively dangerous compare to compression springs. But there are other options like using torsion spring and series of pulling strings. But the safety issues remain. Hence the testing of industrial level springs often guarantee it's operation limits very strictly. And I strongly suggested using CAD like design tools to check the parameters before actually building it as well.