Drawing 3D Thread using helix / sweep

[jl9r 10]

Hi there

 

I have searched through and found various answers to the 'how to draw a 3D thread'. I followed the tutorial on helix and then sweep - BUT I cannot get it to produce more than 3 full threads. I then have had to copy and paste the thread across to get more turns.

 

Also - how do I turn this into a solid. The tutorial says that you just produce a cylinder inside the thread and use the union command. I try this and it will not union them and when I try a subtract command later to remove a flat from the thread, it does nothing...

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

John

[JD Mather 11]

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/CAD238/AutoCAD%202007%20Tutorial%204.pdf

 

If you can't figure it out zip and attach what you have so far.

[jl9r 10]

Thanks - I think I worked out that my original shape wasn't closed, working now!

[Pete G 10]

Gents,

 

I have been attempting to follow this tutorial but with out the associated files.

 

~The main issue I seem to be having is when I create the cutting tool from a 3 line polyline triangle the result is 3 individually swept surfaces.

 

I need the thread to be solid so I can subtract it from a cylinder and indent the thread into it.

 

I see that the Cutting Tool in the tutorial has 3 extra lines inset, why is that? Is it a solid surface? must i sweep a differnt poly line object? or a joined polyline object? Im new to CAD and any help would be appreciated.

[kencaz 10]

Gents,

 

I have been attempting to follow this tutorial but with out the associated files.

 

~The main issue I seem to be having is when I create the cutting tool from a 3 line polyline triangle the result is 3 individually swept surfaces.

 

I need the thread to be solid so I can subtract it from a cylinder and indent the thread into it.

 

I see that the Cutting Tool in the tutorial has 3 extra lines inset, why is that? Is it a solid surface? must i sweep a differnt poly line object? or a joined polyline object? Im new to CAD and any help would be appreciated.

 

Your thread cutting profile must be a joined or it will sweep only 3 surfaces as you stated. Use PEDIT and join the three lines then sweep the helix.

 

KC

[Pete G 10]

Thanks, this worked last night. I have now since gone to work and started over and I cant get the damn thing working.

 

This is what I have done, drawn 3 lines on a flat plane to form a triangle.

 

I have then joined them. I then move the triangle to position it with the top of the helix that i want to sweep. type "sweep" then select the triangle, then when promted I select the helix as the sweep path.

 

I then get a message saying "unable to sweep the selected object." Extremely frustrating as last night I did what you told me in a matter of seconds.