topic Re: Sweep a rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical curve in Inventor Forum

Sweep a rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical curve

almuhandiswep — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:30:19 GMT

How can I make a sweep of rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical shape, as an images that I Attachments.

the problem begin with plane, what kind of plane should I use.

the Rectangle that will sweep should be normal to 3D Sketch (helical curve) and the sweep be parallel to a plane (plane will be normal to axis of helical).

then the type of sweep.

Please help.

And thank you very much.

Re: Sweep a rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical curve

Gabriel_Watson — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 21:28:12 GMT

Can you attach a sample file here?

Assuming you wish to have a profile always normal to the path, the trick is finding a normal plane to the tip of your sweep path, where you can draw your profile for the sweep.

For that I used a normal straight line segment attached to the path start, in the same 3D sketch. You can make it connected to the tip and unconstrained to any plane (keep CTRL key pressed while defining the line's end point). Afterwards, place a tangent constraint between that line and the helical curve.

You can then create a plane through point and normal to axis (your 3D sketch newly-created line segment). Feel free to reduce the length of that line segment later down to almost zero if you want.

Now on that plane you can draw a 2D sketch with the rectangle profile you want, and use a "Follow Path" sweep for the profile, using the 3D sketch lines as path:

Re: Sweep a rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical curve

almuhandiswep — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:47:17 GMT

This is the sample.

Can you do the same steps on the helical please?

because its not clear.

by the way I tried to make as you said, its give me the same plane! normal to curve at point.

Re: Sweep a rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical curve

Gabriel_Watson — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 03:20:39 GMT

Ok, I found a better solution in making the plane normal to a curve on point... no need for a line extension even:

Key step is also making the rectangle constrained to the helix main axis (projected) :

See if the attached result is good enough of an example.

Re: Sweep a rectangle shape (2D sketch) on a variable helical curve

almuhandiswep — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 18:27:38 GMT

Thank you very very much, that's exactly what I wanted.
thank you my friend.