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Cutting a Thread on a Helix

Cutting a Thread on a Helix

Cutting a Thread on a Helix

(OP)
Good afternoon, I have a model with a extruded surface and a 2 degree taper.  I add a helix and gave it a 2 degree taper as well.  Then I created a profile and had it pierce the helix thru the center point of the radius at the bottom of the profile.  The profile was fully defined.  I then tried a sweep cut with the created profile as the profile and the helix as the path and all it will do is error out with a message the says Sweep Operation failed to complete.  I used the standard default setting for the sweep.  This is almost the same procedure I used to make springs, except there I used extrude sweep and everything comes out correctly there.  Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong here?  Thank you in advance for any assistance or advice.

RE: Cutting a Thread on a Helix

You may need to make your helix pass your solid body completely to get a good cut.  So the helix would start below the body and continue past the body above (or whatever orientation) such that your cutting profile doesn't touch the body at the start or end of the helix.

Did you create a plane normal to the helix curve for planting your cutting profile sketch?  That ought to help.  Also, does your profile sketch overlap itself in areas along the helix?  If so, see if you can trim it down so it doesn't overlap.

If this still doesn't work, check out the first and third tutorial here:
http://www.solidengineering.co.nz/solidworks_free_tutorials.htm
It's a different method for doing something like this and works great with more difficult geometries.



Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: Cutting a Thread on a Helix

Are you trying to cut an actual surface (zero thickness) or cut into the surface of a solid?

cheers

RE: Cutting a Thread on a Helix

(OP)
Thanks for the responses.  I am trying to cut into the surfaces.  Also no I did not think I needed the plane because I used the front plane and the helix was at 90 degrees.  I am going to give it a try and see what happens.  

RE: Cutting a Thread on a Helix

No issues here doing what you describe.  Try it without the pierce constraint, and maybe that will get you where you need to go.

Dan

www.eltronresearch.com

RE: Cutting a Thread on a Helix

(OP)
The plane did the trick and now I have something that at least looks like the thread I want.  Thanks again for the help.

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