×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Oval sweep

Oval sweep

Oval sweep

(OP)
Has anyone come up with an easy way to create an oval shaped helical sweep?  It would be like a formed aluminum tubing.  I've used a 3D sketch before but is is labor intensive.

"Perfection - a result of many mistakes."

Blair H.
SW 2007 sp2.0, HP x6400, 2.0ghz dual core xeon, 2.0 GB ram, Nvidia Quadro FX 1500
 

RE: Oval sweep

(OP)
Yes I did check the help.  All it mentions is spirals and variable helix.  I am looking for a way of putting a helix on an oval path.  And guide curves are not working.

"Perfection - a result of many mistakes."

Blair H.
SW 2007 sp2.0, HP x6400, 2.0ghz dual core xeon, 2.0 GB ram, Nvidia Quadro FX 1500
 

RE: Oval sweep

Download "Hinge.zip" from <http://www.esoxrepublic.com/models/>.  There is a barrel-shaped spring that may give you ideas.  The spring uses a helix to generate an "auger" that intersects a conical surface to generate the spring wire sweep path.

I'm fairly certain SW2008 has better tools for this job.

RE: Oval sweep

So... what do you want to happen at the transition between radius and straight?  Your problem is still a bit underdefined.  Do you want the straight sides to be exactly tangent to the helix?  If so, you're not going to be able to do this with a single sweep/helix/curve.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

RE: Oval sweep

(OP)
Here is a bit more info.  Take a look at my first attempt to create what I want using a 3D sketch and a linear pattern.  I'm just asking if anyone has a simpler way of doing this.

If first you do succeed...try something harder.

Blair H.
SW 2008 sp2.0, HP x6400, 2.0ghz dual core xeon, 2.0 GB ram, Nvidia Quadro FX 1500
 

RE: Oval sweep

I'm out.  Still on '07.

RE: Oval sweep

I think CBL's Oval spring is the better way to go. I was able to create the oval spring using your dimensions in less than 5 minutes. I think either way will work for your needs. Let us know if you need any other help.

Below is my attempt using CBL's method:
 

Best Regards,
Jon

Gemini CAD Solutions
http://www.geminicadworks.com

Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Solidworks 2007/2008
 

RE: Oval sweep

(OP)
Thanks to everyone.  CBL's Oval spring worked just fine.  I apperciate everyones efforts to help me with my dilema.

If first you do succeed...try something harder.

Blair H.
SW 2008 sp2.0, HP x6400, 2.0ghz dual core xeon, 2.0 GB ram, Nvidia Quadro FX 1500
 

RE: Oval sweep

Guys,
How did you created 3D curve for the last sweep?
I did not get it.

Thank you.
 

RE: Oval sweep

If you mean in the last one posted, you have to start a 3D sketch and then use the Convert Entities tool on all the trimmed edges.

cheers

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources