creating a volute

[Anonymous]

I want to create a volute as decorative part of a clock case. I have already build a kind of staircase model and now I want to make the curved surface smooth but I don't know how. I tried to use a spline as a sweeping path but I can not use the corners of my staircase model when I draw the spline. Can someone help?

Best regards

Joerg

[TrippyLighting]

I've attached what I think you are looking for.

In the end of the screencast I am trying to edit the inside diameter but it does not have an effect because I only change the diameter of the small inside coil.

You'd also need to carefully edit the angle on the first larger coil, at least the way it's designed in this file.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply,

I will try it, but the main problem is that the volute I want to create is quite more complex because it has a lot of features like oval shape, and a somehow tilted surface. It should be exactly according to the dimensions I have measured from a photo. I fear with your solution it is not possible. Attached are two pics of my basic sketch and the photo analysis I have done.

Best regards

Jörg

[TrippyLighting]

That can be done as well but it will be a good bit more involved.
The technique is the same, but creating the splits for the sweep will be more complicated,

[dyefroy1]

I am trying to

make a simple volute and just saw your tutorial. It is a very smart approach but for some reason my sweep is not forming, even though I used the same values as you have. It is just giving an error.

Would you have any suggestions? 

@TrippyLighting 

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@dyefroy1 wrote:

Would you have any suggestions? 

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@dyefroy1 

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