error in building a Coil feature

[hugolopessilva]

Hello,

I am trying to build a coil, similar to that in the .ipt file I attach herein, in an existing solid part. However, I am getting the following errors everytime:

Regarding the sketch: "Concentric constraint to reference geometry that could not be resolved. Use Edit Sketch to delete the reference geometry and rebuild the constraint."

Regarding the feature itself: "The specified inputs for the Coil operation resulted in a self-intersecting coil. Try with different inputs."

I can't share the part in which I am getting these errors, as it belongs to my work. However, I would like to know if someone has any clues regarding what might be wrong, so I can do a checklist to try to solve the problem.

Any help is appreciated,

Thank you in advance,

Best regards,

Hugo

[hugolopessilva]

Hello,

I am trying to build a coil, similar to that in the .ipt file I attach herein, in an existing solid part. However, I am getting the following errors everytime:

Regarding the sketch: "Concentric constraint to reference geometry that could not be resolved. Use Edit Sketch to delete the reference geometry and rebuild the constraint."

Regarding the feature itself: "The specified inputs for the Coil operation resulted in a self-intersecting coil. Try with different inputs."

I can't share the part in which I am getting these errors, as it belongs to my work. However, I would like to know if someone has any clues regarding what might be wrong, so I can do a checklist to try to solve the problem.

Any help is appreciated,

Thank you in advance,

Best regards,

Hugo

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Use a Coil Surface body (line).  (Or use 3D sketch Helix, but I prefer the surface method as it is easier to edit.)

Create plane perpendicular to start of helix.

Sketch profile on the perpendicular plane.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Use a Coil Surface body (line).  (Or use 3D sketch Helix, but I prefer the surface method as it is easier to edit.)

Create plane perpendicular to start of helix.

Sketch profile on the perpendicular plane.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Hugo,

I agree with JD. Coil feature is a quick way to generate constant-radius, constant-pitch helical sweep. However, there are limitations. 1) The profile plane is not located normal to the path at the start. The resultant shape may not have consistent cross-section at everypoint on the path. 2) The sweep algorithm it used was old.

To have better control and smoother result, you should use 3D Sketch -> Helical Curve to create the path. Then create the profile plane at the start of the path, normal to the path.

Many thanks!

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Hugo,

I agree with JD. Coil feature is a quick way to generate constant-radius, constant-pitch helical sweep. However, there are limitations. 1) The profile plane is not located normal to the path at the start. The resultant shape may not have consistent cross-section at everypoint on the path. 2) The sweep algorithm it used was old.

To have better control and smoother result, you should use 3D Sketch -> Helical Curve to create the path. Then create the profile plane at the start of the path, normal to the path.

Many thanks!