Create Solid Helix Mastercam X2

[9 1/2]

Hey guys, I'm building a machinist's vice in X2 and found myself wondering about makeing the Acme screw a helix rather than a simple cylinder. At this point I'm not getting too far. Can this be done or are all screw shaft displayed as a cylinder?

3/4" Acme thread 10tpi 3.75 inches long.

I'm not asking some one to DO it for me, just "can it be done?"

thanks all.

peace

[crazythunder]

Yes.



.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


Ok Know I will tell you how.

Use the draw helix option. I would be in the right view when I do it if making something for the lathe, but can be in any view. Now you need to make the tooth pattern which would be a remove/cut solid. Make sure that it is start or ended at the helix. Then use a solid/sweep method. The 1st chain is the tooth detail. The helix is the sweep chain. Then all should be good. I try ot make radii on the inside teeth make for a better solid.

Send me an email and I will send you the files they zipped are 9.7mb bigger than they allow here. crazymillman(at)gmail(dot)com

[9 1/2]

Hmm thanks, I'll work through your instructions first. At this point it sorta does, well, nothing. I must be missing something.

Creat Helix was pretty straight forward, the thread "detail" built in the right view consists of a little "V" at the starting point of the helix.

Solid, Sweep. Selecting the "single chain" option I pick the two lines forming the V detail. Sweep path defined by the helix (so far so good) select "Creat Body" click OK (green check mark) and get ........... nothing. no error, no nothing. Sorta like when your wife says "nothing is wrong!" then goes all silent when you figure out what is wrong and say so ......... icy silence.

[9 1/2]

after though post ..........

Acme threads are 29 deg included angle (14 1/2 center line angle) and a square thread form (not a V form thread profile) but "one step at a time grass hopper....."

[9 1/2]

thanks for the direction CT, got it nailed down this afternoon.

all 29 degrees of it.

peace

[crazythunder]

Glad to be of assistance and once you do it a couple times it becomes easy. Biggest thing always make the cutting body bigger than the cut body. If doing .750 solid shaft make sure the profile to cut it is .380 and not .375 this will error you out everytime. Also all threads have a radius though some might be as small as .002 it is still a radius and Mastercam plays nice with radii when making solid threads.