Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

ok so what ive been trying to do for about a week now is make a helix that sweeps around a rectangular prism i was able to make it in solid works but i cant find a way to do it in inventor. any suggestions would help

[#2]

Please post a picture of what you are trying to achieve.

[#3]

somethin like this

[#4]

You can try below workflow:

1. Download the attached sample excel which defines the 3D points for creating the sweep path.

2. New a part document and create a 3D sketch.

3. On the 3D Sketch tab, call Insert->Points command.

4. With the Open dialog, choose the excel and click the Options... button to change the Import Options to Create lines.

5. Click OK and Open to create the 3D sketch lines, and then click the Bend command and select each corner point to create the bend so the sweep is smooth at the corners.

6. Exit 3D sketch, and create a 2D sketch bases on XZ plane, and create a circle with its center on origin.

7. Exit 2D sketch, and create a sweep feature with the circle as profile and the 3D sketch lines as path.

Hope  this helps.

[#5 · Accepted solution]

Hi blmckenzi3,

There are two example models you can find attached at this link:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Autodesk-Inventor/Making-a-rectangular-spring/m-p/3441447

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[#6]

that excel file didnt work i got to the insert points commad and selected the excel file chose the create lines option hit open and nothing happened

[#7]

how do you make things translucent? sorry im kinda new at this

[#8]

Hi blmckenzi3,

You can do this by extruding a profile as a surface (rather than a solid).

You might use the End of Part marker in the examples at the link to examine how the features were created one at a time.

This is often a good way to learn a new technique. Post back if you have more questions and I'm sure someone will help.

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[#9]

Hi blmckenzi3,

You might also see JDMather's knot tutorial for more on the general technique:

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/DSG322/Inventor%20Tutorials/Inventor%2011%20Tutorial%207.pdf

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/DSG322/inventor_surface_tutorials.htm

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[#10]

Thanks everyone! oh man ive been trying to do this for almost two weeks now