Coil or spring along a curved path

[beau-tech]

Alright IV people, I have a unique part that needs to be generated in IV. It is a sping that follows a curved path (see attachment). Been messing around a bit and figure maybe someone can direct me to help get this done quicker. I do have complete information, just need to draw it in.

Thank you.

Pete

[dan_inv09]

How precise do you need to be?

The best way is to use a texture. Very simple and not all of that fiddly geometry to bog things down.

There are also ways to do it with an excel program to generate points for a 3D spline to sweep along.

Or you should be able to use the bend command to take a normal coil and give it a curve.

Why, I recall about a year or so ago someone wanted a coil of something coiled that wrapped around in a circle - I must have deleted my attempt, I could have sworn I saw it just the other day. I think I did it with a coil that I bent and then put a "Spiral_Wrap&" texture on the whole thing, it was a sight to behold I tell you.

Just bending a coil seemed easy enough for that picture.

[sysh]

This problem has been covered here many times in the past. You can find more informatin below.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Autodesk-Inventor/coil/m-p/2605075#M362551

[beau-tech]

Ok, version 2013 has been out for awhile now. Does this version have a easier way of making this spring/ coil along a curved path (see first post for photo)?

Thanks.

Pete

[JDMather]

2013 now has Equation Curves

[dan_inv09]

I'm sorry but I just don't see what you find so very difficult with making a coil and bending it?

3D Model tab, in Create: Coil feature and when you are done with that in Modify (you may have to expand it with the little arrow) Bend.

Is it the coil that is giving you so much trouble, or do you need us to go step by step through the Bend command?

[dan_inv09]

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu?adskContextId=REDIRECT_ID_PM_HELIX_CMD&language=ENU&release=2013&pr...

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2013/Help/1310-Autodesk1310/1500-Parts1500/1548-Part_fea15...

(man, this "help" really sucks - but I guess if they make it a "wiki" then anyone can edit it and they can't possibly be blamed for it being bad: very nice business strategy!)

[Paul-Mason]

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/enu?adskContextId=REDIRECT_ID_PM_HELIX_CMD&language=ENU&release=2013&pr...

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2013/Help/1310-Autodesk1310/1500-Parts1500/1548-Part_fea15...

ASSUMPTION 2013 !!!! Signature 2012 Pro

[dan_inv09]

Yes I often assume that when someone says 2013 :

"

Re: Coil or spring along a curved path 01-26-2013 11:57 AM in reply to: beau-tech

Ok, version 2013 has been out for awhile now. Does this version have a easier way of making this spring/ coil along a curved path (see first post for photo)?

Thanks.

Pete

"

that they mean 2013.

Sorry for assuming 2013 when they said 2013, what was I thinking?

---

Plus the original solution was 12-03-2010, if you want to be picky - so that means it worked in Inventor 2011 at least, and we were probably still on 2010 at that point.

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2012/Help/0073-Autodesk73/0308-Parts308/0353-Part_fea353/0...

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Inventor/enu/2012/Help/0073-Autodesk73/0308-Parts308/0353-Part_fea353/0...

So, there you have the 2012 help. It didn't look any different to me, but there you go.

(And I would just like to add that the wikihelp really needs some work - but the awesome business strategy of the wiki is Autodesk bears no responsibility for it: if I want it fixed I have to [figure out how to] fix it myself!)