Helix to follow a path
Helix to follow a path
(OP)
I am trying to make a Garter Spring, which is a circular spring, to put it simply. I made a primary circle on the front plane and then I made the helix profile circle on the right plane and then I pierce the pierced the primary circle with the helix profile circle and I was fully constrained. Then I opened up the helix and do you know what it did? It shot straight out in a straight line instead of following the path of the primary circle. Is there any way to get the helix to follow the circle path? Thank you in advance for any assistance rendered.






RE: Helix to follow a path
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Helix to follow a path
1) Create a Swept Surface using a straight line as the profile, a circle as the path and using the Twist along path option. Specify 360° x number of turns required. This will create a surface which spirals around the circular path.
2) Create a Swept Boss/Base using a circle as the profile and one edge of the swept surface as the path. This will create the "Garter Spring". You then need to delete the surface body created in step one to finish the model.
RE: Helix to follow a path
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
http://w
it shows you real threads and fake threads, but hte concept is still the same.
The site is overdue for and update so excuse the old school look.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
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RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
Also, you know you are going to absolutely slaughter your performance, right?
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
ht
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
BTW, I kept the turns low to reduce file size. The idea was only to show how it can be done.
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
You're not going to be able to increase your number of turns until you break the main path circle. If you make the main path circle (the one that's 0.75 diameter) into a half-circle you can make as many turns (up to 100) as you want on the half-circle, then create a circular pattern of that surface body to form the complete circle. It doesn't matter that the two surface bodies are not joined into a single surface body. The final sweep that you do along the path will be a continuous solid body. I just generated a garter spring with 200 turns. As I said before, however, performance takes a huge hit. The model takes 80s to rebuild on my dual Xeon, 3GB, QuadroFX 3400 box.
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
1. Draw 0.75" diameter semicircle on Top plane
2. Draw vertical line on Front plane, one end pierced by semicircle
3. Insert->Surface->Sweep, choose profile and path, and twist along path 100 times
4. Insert->Reference Geometry->Axis defined by intersection of Right and Front planes
5. Choose inserted axis and surface body, Insert->Pattern/Mirror->Circular Pattern, 2 instances, equal spacing, 360 degrees
6. Insert->3D Sketch, select half of the full helix, convert entities. Select the other half, convert entities.
7. Delete both surface bodies
8. Insert->Reference Geometry->Plane, Normal To Curve, check Set Origin On Curve
9. Sketch wire diameter circle on inserted plane, center of circle coincident with helix sketch.
10. Sweep wire diameter sketch along 3D sketch.
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
Rodrigo
www.morrisonpump.com
RE: Helix to follow a path
But this file is in SW07. You can install SW07 next to your SW06, just place it in a different folder then what is given to you by default. (C:\Programs Files\Solidworks07\)
http://
You would have to modify it to fit your design and requirements, but even from the image file that I provided you can see that's possible to do it a far less steps.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
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RE: Helix to follow a path
I really don't think it's possible to do with fewer steps than were listed above. Ideally the circular pattern steps should be eliminated. However, SolidWorks can't seem to calculate the continuous surface body when it's swept with a twist more than 67 turns, and 100 turns is the limit for a single sweep even if you do put a gap in the circular path.
RE: Helix to follow a path
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
I will see what I can come with in SW06... working on it now, its close but its twisting.
Thanks,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
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RE: Helix to follow a path
RE: Helix to follow a path
There you will find a SW06 file. It took more work then I expected, but it looks more like the garter spring I saw. However the where each spring connects the angle is wrong... I don't have a lot of time to put this together correctly, but you can see from the model that it can be done... I think its going to be easier in SW07 or even 08 when it comes out.
I hope this helps explain it better I didn't use a Composite curve I made each one separate. I am sure with more time and patience one could make this much better.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP![[pc2] pc2](https://www.tipmaster.com/images/pc2.gif)
www.scottjbaugh.com
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
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