Block with helical slot
Block with helical slot
(OP)
Hi,
I am trying to get a helical cut in my model and the problem is that I want the profile of the cut to remain vertical while it follows the helical path (just like it would be manufactured i.e. the tool is stationary while the part rotates and translates).
Tried to adjust the settings of the swept cut, but wasn't able to get a cut that would represent the actual part. I have the part file attached and would highly appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks,
Mike
I am trying to get a helical cut in my model and the problem is that I want the profile of the cut to remain vertical while it follows the helical path (just like it would be manufactured i.e. the tool is stationary while the part rotates and translates).
Tried to adjust the settings of the swept cut, but wasn't able to get a cut that would represent the actual part. I have the part file attached and would highly appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks,
Mike






RE: Block with helical slot
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Block with helical slot
RE: Block with helical slot
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Block with helical slot
RE: Block with helical slot
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Block with helical slot
Thanks for the replies. Tried it again and this time it worked (attached file & was missing the interfering condition). But the problem still persists i.e. the profile of the hole is still the same as it is with a 2D profile cut. Can't seem to figure out how i can get a cut resulting from the tool being stationary and the part translating and rotating.
RE: Block with helical slot
rfus
RE: Block with helical slot
RE: Block with helical slot
Is that really what you want? Vertical sides? That's not what will happen when you machine the part in the way you describe. As I understand it, you want the final shape to be the result of holding the cutter in the position you've modeled it in and then rotating the part about the Z axis while simultaneously rotating the part about the Z axis. I hope you don't expect that result to be different from the second model you posted. If you follow rfus's post you will get what you say you want, but that is not the result of the operation you describe. It would be the result of holding the cutter still and moving the part along the X and Z axes while simultaneously moving away from the cutter in the Y axis then moving back to the original Y position.
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Block with helical slot
The cutter will remain stationary in verical position, while the part will translate about Z, rotate about Z, and also translate about Y.
Now what in the actual operation will decide the twist of the cut. The angle of the cutter is the only factor that will change the twist, so keeping minimum twist will imply keeping the cutter fixed in vertical direction. I think the part should come out close to the model.
RE: Block with helical slot
RE: Block with helical slot
Rotating the part and holding the cutter still is no different from rotating the cutter and holding the part still. It's just a matter of your reference frame. This is sophomore kinematics.
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Block with helical slot
RE: Block with helical slot
Michael
RE: Block with helical slot
Try a cut loft with a helix as a guide curve.
See attached model.
Paul
RE: Block with helical slot
No method other than the solid sweep cut is capable of generating the geometry to accurately represent the result of the physical cut described. This type of helical cut is precisely the reason SW added solid sweep cut functionality.
That being said, there is no reason (in my opinion) to accurately create this geometry in SW unless you plan to create a final "barrel cam" profile via rapid prototyping or similar process. I don't know for a fact, but I seriously doubt any CAM package is going to be able to take the very complex surface from the model and realize that it's created by a simple cutting process. Instead it will try to create the surface with a lot of ball-nose cutter passes.
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Block with helical slot
Attached is another try at this using a cut sweep
with the twisted along path with normal constant option at 0 degrees. I have included an assembly with the a shape
and block with a path mate.
Maybe I am misunderstanding the "remaining vertical" part
of Mike's problem.
Paul
RE: Block with helical slot
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)