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Mating a Swept Composite Curve

Mating a Swept Composite Curve

Mating a Swept Composite Curve

(OP)
Good morning, I made a single loop helix and on each end of the helix I pierced it with a line and then made it into a composite curve.  On one end I placed a circle and then I swept the composite curve with the circle profile. So far all is well and then on the end where the profile was I mated a component using concentric and distance with no problem.  The I went to the other end and SW won't let me even use concentric and most of the time it does not even recognize the OD of the tube.  Any ideas on why this is happening?  Any work around?  Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

RE: Mating a Swept Composite Curve

SW is not recognizing the surface as a cylinder.  This most likely due to the combining of helix into composite curve.

For spring models, I like to include datum features to use for mates so that I don't have to worry about this sort of thing.

Create datums for helix centerline and any other key features you plan to use for mates.

RE: Mating a Swept Composite Curve

(OP)
Thank you for the response, TheTrick.  The datum targets seem to get everything to line up correctly, but now I have a new question, how do I get rid of that silly symbol and the X that ar on the edge?  

RE: Mating a Swept Composite Curve

I didn't mean "datum targets" as in drafting entities.  I meant "reference geometry" like planes, points, and axes.

Point, axis, and plane features can be hidden like any other feature.  Right-click on the feature in the feature tree and select "Hide".

RE: Mating a Swept Composite Curve

(OP)
Thanks again for the response.  I tried placing a Reference point on the end of the tube and it did not work very well.  I also player around allot with different axises and that did not do much either.  When I added a datum target to the edge of the tube, everything started to work correctly again.  Go figure, but I have seen SW do stranger things than this.  Thanks again for the help.

RE: Mating a Swept Composite Curve

Make the axis and reference points before you create your sweep.  Use "Rollback" mode to do this.

RE: Mating a Swept Composite Curve

(OP)
Well, they are both already made so I think I will go with them, but I will try your recommendation with the next one.  Thanks for everything.

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