topic Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

MarcusAlanHaberfield — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:42:24 GMT

FUSION360. Sorry, I wasn't sure if this section was Fusion360 exclusive or all Autodesk products. First time posting.

I'm trying to sweep a relatively complex profile along a helical path.

In every other CAD package I've used, I've been able to create the helix with Radius, Pitch, Height etc. and then use the path however I want.

99% of the time I don't want a circular coil. Sometimes I don't even want to use the path to create a body, it's a placement mechanism.

Every time I try to use the coil body, I have to see a big ugly spring that gets in the way of my project. And I can't seem to select the path line if the coil is toggled invisible.

I assume I'm not the only one who has found this a little frustrating.

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

PhilProcarioJr — Thu, 04 May 2017 13:49:52 GMT

@MarcusAlanHaberfield

Simple answer is no.

How you need to do it so you don't have that ugly coil in your scene is to start a sketch and project include 3d geometry. That will produce your helix for your sweep operation then right click on the coli body and select remove. (Not delete)

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

jeff_strater — Thu, 04 May 2017 14:35:43 GMT

Yes, unfortunately, at the current moment there is no helix curve in Fusion. I've been pushing to get that bumped up in priority (the workaround of using a coil primitive kind of offends me...). I have been making progress, and I think it is fairly high on the enhancement list currently. No promises about delivery dates yet, though, sorry...

Jeff

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

MarcusAlanHaberfield — Thu, 04 May 2017 14:55:51 GMT

Okay. Well, poop.

Thanks for the heads up.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 03:55:24 GMT

I know this is older, but I was looking for the same thing.

I found a plugin that helps with helix spline creation in case others are still looking for this too:

https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=3003630592139047508&appLang=en&os=Win64

it's the best thing I have found so far, but it is a little older.

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

infoDLQYB — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:29:07 GMT

Any update on this? I really want just a wire frame of the coil so that I can sweep along it with a cutting operation on a post. I am trying to fashion a barley twist leg for woodworking. It was hard to do in sketchup but possible as one of the intermediate steps was to create a coil.

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:33:35 GMT

@MarcusAlanHaberfield

This is easy.

Create the Coil Surface. (or Sweep with Twist)

Project the edge (although that step isn't really needed.)

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Re: Is there a way to create a Helix or helical path WITHOUT a coil body?

ksAZ3XE — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:50:59 GMT

did you manage to do any progress on this in the past 8 years??