Spiral thread surface

[Jim Estes]

I am wondering if anyone can help me out with creating this solid. In the attached file you will find a constant pitch tapered spiral and a profile of what the thread should look like. I tried using Sweep to create the surface but it created strange shapes.

[The One]

Which version are you using?

Regards

[Jim Estes]

V21

[tobyaxis]

You will have to Create the Thread by calculating the Major, Minor, and Pitch Diameters. This can be done with V21 because I have been doing it for a few months now.

Here is your file back. This isn't exactly what your looking for but it is an idea. I Created Joined lines at the top and bottom of the spirals then used Create Skin Surfaces in the Solids Menu.

To get what you want it will take some trial and error.

Cheers!!!!!!

[Jim Estes]

Thanks, tobyaxis. I was trying to use Sweep surface, but it wouldn't make them right.

Jim

[The One]

Jim,

OK, this will be a slight issue. Version 21 does not handle the sweeping of a surface in a way that would produce the part you are after. In V21, the sweep surface function tries to maintain the normal of the Sweep Chain and not necessarily the Sweep Path. That is why the resulting thread twists and bends in areas that it shouldn't.

I know that this doesn't really answer your question, but 2007 has options in it that allow you to create the Thread with out the visualization in it. Also, there have been some modifications to the way the Sweep function is handled in 2007. Now you have an attachment point on the Sweep Chain, which is good to maintain the position of the Sweep Chain with the Sweep Path. There are also some updates to the surface and solid functions just around the corner (for 2007).

Regards