topic Making 3D printable threads in inventor in Inventor Forum

Making 3D printable threads in inventor

drm2189 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:55:05 GMT

The threadModeler add-in is not compatible with the Autodesk Inventor Professional 2024. Is there an alternative tool that replaces it? Or is there a good guide for this? I've found a few YouTube walkthroughs, but none that explain what each variable is to get the right screw size.

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

kacper.suchomski — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:09:08 GMT

You can model the thread manually using the coil tool.

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

Frederick_Law — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:16:52 GMT

Or get a model from McMaster Carr and edit it.

I printed a drain plug from a bolt.

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

drm2189 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:39:21 GMT

I was able to import it as a solid. I don't know how to copy the thread into the part I'm making. How do you suggest I do so?

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

drm2189 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:40:17 GMT

Thanks for the reply! I am aware that this is a tool that is used. But do you have a recommended step-by-step guide?

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

MH-J — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 13:44:46 GMT

The CoolOrange thread modeler will still work with the current versions of Inventor but you will need to edit a couple of text files first.

Follow the steps below

Install the app from Apps and then navigate to c:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\coolOrange_threadModeler.bundle\ folder.
In Notepad, open the PackageContents.xml file and edit the string SeriesMax="Ir24" to SeriesMax="Ir30".
Save the file.
Now, in the Contents subfolder, open the coolOrange.ThreadModeler.Inventor.addin file in Notepad and delete the line 11 with the parameter SupportedSoftwareVersionSmallerThan.
Save the file again.
Now run Inventor. In the Tools > Options > Add-ins ribbon, open the dialog and unlock and load the coolorange-ThreadModeler plugin.

This is credited to the site below.

https://www.cadforum.cz/en/true-3d-models-of-threads-in-inventor-2022-and-2021-tip12962

Mike

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

Frederick_Law — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:04:12 GMT

@drm2189 wrote:
I was able to import it as a solid. I don't know how to copy the thread into the part I'm making. How do you suggest I do so?

Assembly.

Put the part you're making and solid into assembly.

Add feature on the part to locate the thread.

Or sketch and add what you need on the solid.

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

drm2189 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:33:43 GMT

This worked perfectly, thank you!

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

MH-J — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:52:10 GMT

You're welcome.

It's not a perfect solution, this functionality should be within the core Inventor package and not something created by an external developer. Come on Autodesk, sort this out!

Mike

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

wrobertsZWDP6 — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:00:13 GMT

It's almost ridiculous that this feature is not part of the standard modeling tools in 2024. 3D printing has been part of the design process for a long time now.

AutoDESK,
Get this built into the next service pack ASAP!

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

christopher_hamm86JPG — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:17:19 GMT

Worked perfectly. Thank You

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

revyakinHNHG3 — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:23:42 GMT

Small correction: the line to delete in coolOrange.ThreadModeler.Inventor.addin is "SupportedSoftwareVersionLessThan", not "SupportedSoftwareVersionSmallerThan" 🙂

I guess see you all in this thread when the current version of AI is 31?

Re: Making 3D printable threads in inventor

johnsonshiue — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:55:02 GMT

Hi! Simply set the less than version to 100.