×
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

Internal Helical Spline

Internal Helical Spline

Internal Helical Spline

(OP)
I am tring to model a helical internal spline using SolidWorks 2003.  (Much like a nut)


The steps that I have gone through is to first create the spline geometry and then I created the spiral helical curve.  I then swept the geometry through the helical curve to create an external spline model.  No problem so far.

Next I edited the original spline sketch to add a perimeter circle larger than the spline sketch (in order to create the outside boundries of the nut) to change the spline from an external to an internal. - I hope your with me so far.

When I close the sketch, I get the following error

"Sweep Operation Failed to Complete"

It doesnt give me a hint at what is wrong.

I have tried using the geometry without the helix - ie. just extrude to create an internal spur spline - no problem.

To verify if it is geometry related, I have done the following:

Created a new part

sketched two concentric cicles on one sketch

created a spiral helix path

then tried to sweep the sketch of the two circles through the helical path - I get the same error - "Sweep Operation Failed to Complete"

If i eliminate the outer circle from the sketch - I can model a 3D cylinder.

What am i missing to get this internal helix made?  Is this a quirk in Solidworks 2003

I used to be able to do this in SolidWorks 2000.

Any help would be appreciated


RE: Internal Helical Spline

I’m confused, but then that’s not unusual for me lately. You lost me when you tried to change the sex of the spline. I don’t believe SW can do what you are trying to do, in the way that you are trying to do it.

I’m still not sure if you’re trying to produce a male (more material) or female (less material) spline inside a hole, but either way the basic method is the same.

Create the solid “nut” with a plain hole.
Create the helix sketch with the start & stop points as required.
Create the spline profile sketch.  (adding the pierce relation to the helix if needed)

Then, if you want a male spline use the regular sweep-extrude.
Or, if you want a female spline use “Insert>Cut>Sweep”.
NOTE: You may have to play with the end surfaces of the spline.

Hope this helps.


CorBlimeyLimey
Barrie, Ontario
FAQ559-863

RE: Internal Helical Spline

(OP)
Thank you sir

You have been most helpful.

The sex change method that I used previously works for spur profiles, but not for helical profiles.  I guess thats what got me down that track which ended up being a dead end.

Your method worked wonderfully.

Thanks

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