Metal　rubber　(MR)　is　an　elastic　porous　material　with　a　complex　spiral　network　structure,　which　is　widely　used　in　aerospace,　aviation,　navigation,　medical　biomaterials,　and　other　fields.　The　traditional　preparation　processes　depend　on　multiple　tests　or　artificial　experience,　which　leads　to　time-consuming　and　laborious.　Herein,　a　virtual　manufacturing　method　is　proposed　to　realize　the　spatial　multipoint　dynamic　contact　analysis　of　a　complex　spiral　network　structure,　that　is,　to　study　the　mechanical　properties　of　MR　from　the　micro-tribological　point　of　view.　Through　real-time　capturing　the　spatial　distribution　characteristics　of　each　contact　point　and　the　number　of　contact　pairs　and　contact　mode,　it　is　found　that　the　number　of　dry　friction　contact　points　between　the　wires　is　nonlinear　positive　correlation　with　the　damping　energy　dissipation　characteristics　of　MR.　The　preparation　parameters,　such　as　the　wire　diameter,　the　spiral　wire　pitch,　and　the　blank　winding　angle,　are　selected　to　be　investigated,　and　the　controlling　variable　method　is　used　to　analyze　the　single　factor　influence　in　the　virtual　preparation　process.　The　results　show　that　the　damping　and　energy　consumption　characteristics　of　MR　can　be　improved　effectively　by　reducing　the　wire　diameter,　by　reducing　the　spiral　wire　pitch,　or　by　increasing　the　winding　angle　of　the　blank.　However,　too　small　or　too　large　preparation　parameters　cause　stress　concentration　and　affect　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　actual　materials.　The　quasi-static　compression　test　is　carried　out　through　the　preparation　of　the　products,　and　the　error　between　simulation　and　experiment　results　is　＜8%.　Herein,　the　mechanism　of　contact　friction　between　wire　turns　in　MR　is　expounded.　Also,　this　method　can　effectively　guide　the　production　of　MR　material,　reduce　the　time　of　material　design,　and　promote　the　popularization　and　application　of　the　material.　©　2020　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim