Helix to follow a path 5

[quest4k]

I am trying to make a Garter Spring, which is a circular spring, to put it simply. I made a primary circle on the front plane and then I made the helix profile circle on the right plane and then I pierce the pierced the primary circle with the helix profile circle and I was fully constrained. Then I opened up the helix and do you know what it did? It shot straight out in a straight line instead of following the path of the primary circle. Is there any way to get the helix to follow the circle path? Thank you in advance for any assistance rendered.

 

[JMirisola]

If it simply a circle, as your steps would indicate, you can use a revolve feature or a swept feature. The revolve would be easiest.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

To do that involves two steps;

1) Create a Swept Surface using a straight line as the profile, a circle as the path and using the Twist along path option. Specify 360° x number of turns required. This will create a surface which spirals around the circular path.

2) Create a Swept Boss/Base using a circle as the profile and one edge of the swept surface as the path. This will create the "Garter Spring". You then need to delete the surface body created in step one to finish the model.

 

[JMirisola]

Ahh...now I understand...

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[handleman]

Like this.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Exactly like that.

 

[quest4k]

Thank you handleman for the download, but I can not open it because our IT department still has not upgraded us and I am still stuck with 2006. Thank you also CorBlimeyLimey, I am still trying to get your suggestion to work, because I have never used these items before. I created the line and a circle on the front plane and I can not get swept in surfaces to un-gray so I can use it. I will keep on working on it and maybe I will figure it out soon.

 

[SBaugh]

You should be able to open this file:

http://www.scottjbaugh.com/Design_Portfolio/Types of Threads.zip

it shows you real threads and fake threads, but hte concept is still the same.

The site is overdue for and update so excuse the old school look.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
faq731-376

 

[quest4k]

Thanks Scott, I have already seen this file and in fact I use the fake thread allot in my models. I am reading everything in help on swept surface and I hope to have it figured out shortly, but right now it is the first time I have worked with it and it is not starting, so to speak.

 

[quest4k]

Well, I finally got it working, some what. I have the path circle at .750 and the line at .053 and it is centered on the circle. I got it to go up to 66 turns and then it bombs out on me saying "Smooth path is needed for sweep to twist." I don't understand why I am getting this message on 67 and more turns. It looks like 90 to 110 is probably were the number of turns should be. Anyone have any insight on this? Thank you again for all of the help.

 

[handleman]

You don't necessarily want the line to be centered on the circle. If you do that you will create a double helix. Just have one end of the line pierced by the circle. The other end will trace your helix.

 

[handleman]

I think SW is having trouble making the sweep join back up to itself when it goes all the way around the circle. If you will make the tiniest break in the path circle (1 degree angle or so) then SW won't try to join the sweep back up to itself and the feature should succeed. However, I believe the number of twists is limited to 100, so you're not going to be able to get your 110 turns without doing some sort of circular patterning.

Also, you know you are going to absolutely slaughter your performance, right?

 

[quest4k]

Thanks handleman, I currently have it centered and it looks great up to 66 turns and then from 67 turns on I blow out with that message. I did try the one end piercing the circle and I got the same results, except that the max number of turns is now 65 instead of 66. and yes I got the exact same message.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

This one was done with SW2006

http://www.dropfiles.net//files/311/Garter Spring 2006.zip

 

[quest4k]

Thanks CorBlemeyLimey, but it says it still can not recognize the version. I am using SW Office 2006 sp4.1. It looks good except for it needs more turns.

 

[handleman]

As I said before, SW is having trouble joining the ends of the sweep together. I can't imagine the level of math required to make the sweep meet together smoothly, and I'm sure the problem probably has to do with something being rounded off somewhere. You are going to have to make a break in the circle you are using for the sweep path. And even then you will be limited to 100 turns max.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If it cant recognize the version (and I assume can't be opened) how can you tell if it needs more turns?

BTW, I kept the turns low to reduce file size. The idea was only to show how it can be done.

 

[quest4k]

Thanks guys for the help, I think I will just play with it and see if I can get those 100 turns. As for file size that is no problem because the server is huge and there is plenty of RAM on this machine.

 

[handleman]

CBL was trying to keep file size smaller to reduce upload/download time, not for storage space or performance opening the file.

You're not going to be able to increase your number of turns until you break the main path circle. If you make the main path circle (the one that's 0.75 diameter) into a half-circle you can make as many turns (up to 100) as you want on the half-circle, then create a circular pattern of that surface body to form the complete circle. It doesn't matter that the two surface bodies are not joined into a single surface body. The final sweep that you do along the path will be a continuous solid body. I just generated a garter spring with 200 turns. As I said before, however, performance takes a huge hit. The model takes 80s to rebuild on my dual Xeon, 3GB, QuadroFX 3400 box.

 

[quest4k]

Thanks, I'l give it a try.