CoilFeature

CoilFeature

MichaelT_123
Advisor Advisor
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Message 1 of 4

CoilFeature

MichaelT_123
Advisor
Advisor
Does API support creation of CoilFeature?
It seems there are no method(s) (...like createInput) listed in docs?
Regards
MichaelT
MichaelT
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672 Views
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Message 2 of 4

Anonymous
Not applicable
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Even if it doesn't the new sweep with a twist should be able to do the job. You'll need to draw the axis and shape yourself though - not to mention calculate the twist itself.

 

Yup it can be done... but that initial shape placement is more than annoying.

 

sweeping_coil.png

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Message 3 of 4

ekinsb
Alumni
Alumni
Accepted solution

The API does not currently support the creation of any of the primitive feature types. This is because I haven't figured out a good way to expose them.  When interactively creating a primitive type of feature you first have to select a plane and then it throws you into a limited sketch environment where you can only define the shape needed for that particular primitive. You can even see the sketch in the timeline at this point.  However your very limited to only defining the size of the feature and you cannot create dimensions or constraints to control the position of the sketch geometry you're defining. Which means that you can't control the position of the coil relative to other geometry. Once you've completed the initial sizing step then you move on to define the other needed input, like the length for a box or the radius of a sphere.

 

I think because how the primitives work their usefulness is quite limited and also make it difficult to expose through the API.  Using other features you can also create the same shapes in a more intelligent way, with the exception of the coil feature.


Brian Ekins
Inventor and Fusion 360 API Expert
Mod the Machine blog
Message 4 of 4

MichaelT_123
Advisor
Advisor

Thank you Mr. Ekins and Mr. Ross.Korsky

 

Yes I am aware about some other methods (sweep, extrude), but I was a little too lazy Smiley Sad.

 

It a pity that there is a lack of creation of basic (and not so) geo-primitives in F360.

As I understand , the internal engine runs only on bRepBodies. Even 'sphere' requires only a brutal Cartesian force  of point and scalar. Others primitives are also primitive ... box - two points, spiral two points and two scalars, etc. Interactions of primitive badies are direct, straightforward and based upon a little external intelligence ( ... a good quality pub comes to mind ...) , As an example, it would be "almost' trivial for reasonably conscious bady to intersect two spirals, ... additionally delivering analytical outcome ... which should be of little surprise !

 

I hope F360 will adopt primitives in its endeavours ... for benefit of all parties.

 

Best Regards

MichaelT 

 

PS.

Perhaps API ref. sentence :

"

CoilFeatures

Object Collection that provides access to all of the existing coil features in a design and supports the ability to create new coil features.

"

require a little touch ... 

MichaelT
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