creating spiral grooves on roll outside diameter

[TomOliver]

I'm trying to create a spiral pattern on the outside of a roll. 

roll is 15.75 o.d. 

6" length. 

80 grooves at 45 degree angle 

I have tried a few methods unsuccessfully. 

Thanks in advance, 

Tom 

[JDMather]

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@Dixieprecision wrote:

I have tried a few methods unsuccessfully.  

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Attach one of  your attempts here (the *.ipt file).

[TomOliver]

I've attached the file. 

The roll itself it simple. I just can figure out the grooves. 

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi Dixieprecision,

Attached is quick example file done in Inventor 2015.

Note that both of my 2D sketches contained the sweep profile (circle), but only one of them needed it. So I did extra work in this example that you could avoid.

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

[TomOliver]

This seems like the soultion. 

I'll give it a try. The video makes it look so simple. 

[JDMather]

First thing I noticed is that your circles in Sketch1 are not at the Origin.

[TomOliver]

JD, 

I have 3 days on inventor coming from autocad LT. So this change is significant. Even though I was confused about the constraints at first and wanted to come on here and post about "how drawing in Autocad is so much easier", I continued on giving Inventor a try and now I see how the constraints are advantageous. 

All that being said, between this forum and youtube, I have had no formula training. So my question is probably a stupid one. Why would my sketch one need to be at the orgin? 

Curtis, 

I have tried what you posted and it seemed to work. Or at least good enough for me now. However, If you notice in my part on the left side the groove doesn't break through all of the way. It look correct on the right side. However not on the left. 

Thanks so much for your help. 

[JDMather]

I recommend that you start by watching these videos (turn on your sound).

Your design problem is actually far more complex than might be initially thought.

(to get the sides correct (the same as a ball end mill will cut) is actually a bit tricky)

The example Curtis shows isn't technically correct.  If only the sphere of the ball endmill cut into the part - it would be an easy problem.  But going deeper than the sphere is a cylinder swept along a helix - complicated geometry to model.

I am working on a model that correctly solves the problem, but 80 instances of the cut is killing my computer.

I an trying to find an efficient solution.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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@Dixieprecision wrote:

 Curtis, 

I have tried what you posted and it seemed to work. Or at least good enough for me now. However, If you notice in my part on the left side the groove doesn't break through all of the way. It look correct on the right side. However not on the left.

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Hi Dixieprecision,

I didn't look at your actual file, as I'm currently using Inventor 2015, and it will not open Inventor 2016 or 2017 files, but I had a hunch that cut might be a bit off based on your photos. I think the sketch orientation will be normal to the path.

It sounds like JDMather is on top of it though.

Since you're new to Inventor, have a look at this link:

http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com/2011/03/inventor-101-simple-fully-constrained.html

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

[TomOliver]

Thanks for your help. I'm not sure there is a way for me to back save my file so that you can open it. 

[TomOliver]

JD, 

I'm impressed this little roll almost stumped you. After having only been on this forum a few days, I can tell you have great deal of knowledge. You have already answered so many other questions I have had. I will watch those videos you mentioned. I am grateful for your time and effort. 

[Curtis_Waguespack]

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@Dixieprecision wrote:

Thanks for your help. I'm not sure there is a way for me to back save my file so that you can open it. 

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Hi Dixieprecision,

You could save out as a solid format such as *.igs or *.stp, but it won't bring along all of the sketch and feature history. I would just see the "dumb" 3D solid.

I wouldn't worry about it though, it sounds like JDMather is working up a proper example as we speak.

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

[WHolzwarth]

Hmm. At first glance I thought, that this is an easy task. But an initial attempt in 2014 took a long time. I broke it.

Next attempt in 2015 was time-lasting, too. But here's the result. I dont't know the cause for the delay.

With my upload, I noticed an enormous filesize of more than 53 MB. I've added another file with EOP up now

Autodesk, are you watching?

Walter

[JDMather]

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Dixieprecision wrote: 

I'm impressed this little roll almost stumped you. ...

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Stumped? I just had to find a technique that wouldn't take 20 minutes to rebuild.

Here is my solution.

(Walter - is your cut deep enough? I didn't unroll the features to see?)

[WHolzwarth]

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(Walter - is your cut deep enough? I didn't unroll the features to see?)

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I don't know, Jeffrey. I did it, without looking at Tom's attachment.

And I won't give it another try ...

Later: Ok, curiosity did it again. I don't think, that sweeping a sketch along a non-rectangular path relative to the sketch plane is the way to go. Cut depth is minor priority.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

I made a slight change.