How to do a "snake" wheel ?

[CapGuy]

Hello,

I would like to make a kind of mouse-wheel but with the "grip-lines" not on the circumference of the wheel, but on both sides, and in the same way together (hollow on one side while bump on the opposite and so on all around).

I guess circular pattern will be my solution, but I would like to obtain a smooth and regular "wave" surface all around the circle, without any broken continuity...

Any idea to do this ?

Cordially,
Guy

[etfrench]

This may get you close:

1. Draw a circle representing the diameter of the wheel and another the inner diameter of the wave.
2. Draw a line from the center of the circle to the perimeter.
3. Use a circular pattern to show how many waves you want.
4. Create a sketch perpendicular to the axis of the wheel at the end points of one wave (Use the measure tool to get the distance from the center).
5. Project the end points of one wave to the sketch.
6. Draw a sine wave between the two points.
7. Create a copy of the sine wave the thickness of the wheel.
8. Close the boundary of the sine waves by drawing vertical lines from the end point of the first.
9. Create another sketch at the minimum diameter of the waves.
10. Repeat steps 5 through 8.
11. Loft between the two sketches.
12. Circular pattern to finish.

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

Is this what you're looking for ?

If so a more convoluted way of doing it is attached.

[CapGuy]

@etfrench : thanks a lot, these explanations help me to understand the way of thinking F360 things, very good support, thank you very much 🙂

@TrippyLighting : thank you very much for the time you taken to build this F360 sample file, which give me all what I needed to re-do the process and understand the workflow.

Very happy I am ! 😄

Cordially,
Guy

[CapGuy]

Hell(o) @TrippyLighting,
One more question : please could you tell me how do you draw these perfect sinusoidal lines between the extremities of the straight patterned lines ?
Thanks again,
Guy

[TrippyLighting]

Those are splines. I made the 2 circular patterns so I have points to select for these splines.

[CapGuy]

Just great.
Thanks again and again 🙂

Guy