Inventor 2008 Modeling a Thread

[larry53]

When I make a thread on a model the apperance of the thread looks rounded not much resemble a thread. Is there any method of improving the apperance of the thread?

[wages]

Inventor uses a thread bitmap file to wrap hole surfaces. I'm guessing you could change the bitmap out with a different one, but I think it would require a registry edit.

there is no option or supported way to do this, as far as i know

[Rube]

Easily done with the COIL command. this is just like SWEEP, but the sweep path is a coil that you can control the pitch, length, # rotations...etc. You can have any thread shape you like such as the rounded threads of a ball screw, because you sketch t he thread profile. Now, this definitely looks cool, and something you should certainly learn how to do, but most of the time real threads on fasteners are not neccessary and the graphic representation is enough. Besides the computing/graphics power needed starts slowing down the system.

[larry53]

Your thread profile looks alot better than the one I drew. I have not used coil command, do not even know what it is. But I will looked into it. I know it is only for apperance only. I used the thread command and my thread looks like a rounded stripped thread.

[wages]

Hi Larry,
attached is quick video of the how to create threads using the coil tool as Rube suggests.

You're right these look much better, but the normal thread and tapped hole tools are much more effecient in terms of time to create them and in terms of memory used, again as Rube mentions. I think the idea is model only the threads that will be machined and just apply the cometic threads for everything else.

Hope this helps.

[larry53]

Thanks, the video really helps.