Spiral

[tfissel]

I'm new to autodesk and just wanted to make a simple race track with a loop in it. This is the first time I'm attempting anything with a curve/spiral in it. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how I should do this or if anyone knows of a tutorial video that explains it I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks

[SBix26]

If I understand correctly, you're wanting to make a track with a helical section in it?  Like my old Hot Wheels track?  If so, creating a 3D sketch and placing a helix in it would be a good start.  Then add lines and arcs to the ends for a complete sweep path.

[JDMather]

Something like this?

[cean_au]

cool. is it a movement simulation?

[JDMather]

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@cean_au wrote:

cool. is it a movement simulation?

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Done entirely in Inventor using Dynamic Simulation environment.

[tfissel]

Nearly exactly like this. The difference being that I'm actually using 90 degree angle steel and will have a steel ball rolling along the track. It's actually for a proof of conservation of energy for a physics class. I don't need a CAD drawing but I thought it would be fun to try to make one.

Here is what I want to copy: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01-physics-i-classical-mechanics-fall-1999/video-lectures/lectu...

The track can be seen around 30 minutes. I use angle steel so that the ball only contacts 2 points so has the least amount of friction possible. I want to get as close as possible to the 5/2 r height for the experiment. I actually tried a hot wheels track but the friction was so high I  had to double the height of the car from what I preidicted.

[JDMather]

Attach your ipt file here.
Some people use the 3D sketch Helix tool to create their sweep path - but I don't do it that way since it is harder to edit.
Some people use Coil (solid) feature tool directly - but I don't do that since that doesn't result in the correct geometry cross-section (the profile is not aligned to the path).

I create a Coil surface feature (coil a single line).

Then create a workplane normal to the edge of the helical surface.
Create my profile on that plane to sweep.