Placing shims around a Helix

[rdcress]

I'm trying to place 3 rows of spacers along a helix and am at a loss as to how to attach them and have them align with the surface of the helix in rows 120 degrees apart. 

[SBix26]

Post your parts here along with what version of Inventor you're using.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.2.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I suspect you may need to create work features in the coil part to help position.

Many thanks!

[rdcress]

Here are the helix part and the shim (wedge) part.

Inventor 2021.0.1  64 bit

[rdcress]

Helix and shim (wedge) parts uploaded.

Inventor 2021.0.1

64Bit version

Thanks.

[SBix26 · Accepted solution]

Here's one way to do the job (Inventor 2021 format), using features added to the helical part to help with placement:

I created a 3D sketch for the path to array one "row", then made a pattern of workpoints.  In the assembly, I constrained one shim using only origin features, then patterned it using the workpoint pattern from the helical part.

I'm sure this isn't exactly what you wanted, since I don't know the spacing you have in mind.  But it should give you some ideas.

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2021.2.1 | Windows 10 Home 2004
LinkedIn

[rdcress]

That gives me some material to work with.  The shims have to align with the helix pitch and are brazed side by side on each turn so that every wrap is supported in three places each 120 degrees apart. It ends up taking around 300 or so shims on every helix.   I'll take your suggestion and work with it as a starting point.  Sometimes it just takes a place to start.  Thanks for your input.