Helix

Hi helpers,

I need to create a part similar to a 'curly' telephone cable. I can create
the shaped 3D path OK but how do I get a helix to follow it to use as a path
for the 'wire'. I've been looking at this for hours. Any help much
appreciated

Roger

 

: Hi helpers,
:
: I need to create a part similar to a 'curly' telephone cable. I can create
: the shaped 3D path OK but how do I get a helix to follow it to use as a path
: for the 'wire'.

You need two things: a helical curve and a sketch with a 'pierce' constraint to an
end point of the helical curve.

Helical curve
Start by sketching a circle as the diameter of the helix. Lock it to the origin.
With that sketch highlighted, pick 'Insert>Curve>Helix/Spiral'. Fill in the
parameters for pitch, turns, starting angle and direction.

Sketched profile for sweep
If you selected as a starting angle of either 0 or 90 or a multiple, you can
sketch on an existing plane that the end points lie on. Make a relation between
the profile sketch and the helical path by picking a center point or vertex
geometry for the pierce point and select the helix sketch. The 'pierce' constraint
should appear in a list.

Create the sweep
With profile sketch selected, pick either the Sweep icon or
'Insert>Boss/Surface/Cut>Sweep'. The profile should be filled in, so just pick the
helical curve for the path. When feature previews, indicating a go, click the
green 'ok' check.

David Janes

 

David

I think the question is a bit harder than that
Unless I'm much mistaken, I think Roger wants a path of essentially helical
character, but one whose long axis is a spline rather than a straight line.



Roger

If so, use google to search back through this NG: this topic often comes up,
and local hero Mike Wilson(who has his own website
http://www.mikejwilson.com) has developed at least one SldWks-specific
solution and documented it on his site.

 

2005 will be out soon

 

That's very interesting Stave but how does that help?

 

I think Dynabits (www.dynabits.com) has a program that does this, but I
have no first-hand experience withthem or their products.

 

one method although approximate would be to-
set off 12 evenly spaced points along the spline including the ends and
create normal planes at those.
set up a sketch of a circle with evenly spaced points at 30 deg on its
circumference and copy paste that to all planes
use 3d spline sketch to join the dots into a progressive sweep path
spiralling around the spline- that is at the next plane choose the next
clockwise? point.
create a normal plane for a circle profile on the end of the formed path
..sweep to make your helical wonder.

 

Thanks Dave. In this case, our approach is to calculate points along the
helix with Excel or with our free MathSurf macro
(http://www.dynabits.com/sw/free/macros/mathsurf/index.htm ) You'll need a
bit of math here...

You can then use the "Curve through XYZ points" function to read your helix
in SolidWorks. Our SketchFile
(http://www.dynabits.com/sw/free/macros/sketchfile/index.htm) helps with
mathematically defined surfaces.

 

beta testers can't say.

 

Roger,


Mike Wilson has some examples on his site:
http://www.mikejwilson.com/solidworks/solidworks_files.htm

Check out the Curve Driven Pattern on page 2 and the Adjustable Curved Helix
on page 5.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"

 

Thanks for all your help and ideas. As this will almost certainly be a 'one
off' I went for Neil's suggestion and got it to work.
Thanks again to you all.
Roger