Coiling a Swept Object

[jsmith49KF2MQ]

Hi, I am trying to make a section of coiled tubing that moves in a zigzag motion radially. So far I have created a 30° section of the first rotation using the sweep tool. This 30° segment is a wavelength so will repeat in the next part of the coil. I have then attempted to make a path for this sweeped object to follow using the coil tool. The coil does not produce an edge or sketch that I can use to set the sweep object on the path. Is there a simple way to do this? 

[JDMather]

Attach file here.

[jsmith49KF2MQ]

Here you go. Thank you for the fast reply.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! This is highly doable in Inventor. The tricky thing is how to get the wiggling path. Simply pattern the wiggling spline in the 2D sketch. Recreate the Coil using a horizontal profile. Create a 3D Sketch and project the splines to the Coil surface. You will get the 3D path. Lastly, create a circular profile at the start of the path.

Many thanks!

[kacper.suchomski]

Hi @johnsonshiue 

Can you attach your file? I wonder if we're thinking the same thing. Thank you.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Kaceper,

Many thanks for the reminder! My corrupted memory is getting worse.

Thanks again!

[kacper.suchomski]

@johnsonshiue  WOW! That's what I've been thinking about, but haven't figured it out myself yet. I was worried that the suggestions would be for a double coil, but this is great. The only thing that still puzzles me is what to do if the division is immeasurable (I think abstractly out of curiosity). I'm thinking of the case where you can't split 360 degrees into x segments (for example if one would be 25 degrees); but this is just curiosity of descriptive geometry - I don't have this problem at work; i just see how the user conundrum can develop and get complicated.
Thanks!

[jsmith49KF2MQ]

Hi @johnsonshiue this is fantastic help, thank you very much. I will dig into your file and try to work back from what you have done.

I appreciate your assistance!