Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 How do I make a 2d version of the attached helix. The dimensions are: Base Diam: .4908 Top Diam: .8125 Number of turns: 3.337 height: 1 I need the height to be 0 basically. Is this not possible? I need to sweep a vertical rectangle around the resulting 2d helical path. helix.dwg Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 I want to end up with this, only with no rise. spring.dwg Quote
MaxwellEdison Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 Go to plan view and use the FLATTEN command to convert it into 2d polylines Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 When I do that it says unknown command "FLATTEN". Divide by 0. Quote
skipsophrenic Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 Try using this LISP routine here. http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2019 Quote
MaxwellEdison Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 Hmm...worked fine for me. Of course your helix was also showing me a height of 0. Try taking the height back to 1 and try it again. Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 hmm I guess you are right it is 0 height. To sweep the 3dpolyline rectangle along this path, the only success I've had has been to trace arcs around it snapping to polar arrayed lines since you can't snap anywhere useful on the helix. The lines go from the center outward, 360 degrees around the helix with a line every 2 degrees. I try and snap the arcs to the intersections of the line and the helix, but the intersection is always just slightly offset from where it actually appears to the eye. This error is unacceptable for what I need to do and it ends up being quite angular at the point where each arc connects. Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 Try using this LISP routine here. http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2019 I'm not sure if I'm doing it incorrectly, but when I tried the LISP I got this error message:; error: An error has occurred inside the *error* functionbad argument type: stringp nil. I apologize for my newbness, but I've been teaching myself how to use autocad 2007 with the help of the kind people from these forums. I really do appreciate the help. Quote
MaxwellEdison Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 Did you try FLATTEN with a helix height other than 0? Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 Ok, upon copying and pasting the spring by itself and flattening it in a new file the lisp did work. Quote
skipsophrenic Posted January 13, 2009 Posted January 13, 2009 Did you try FLATTEN with a helix height other than 0? ok, sorry about that, I use that routine al the time an never had that trouble. Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 ok here is the result. Thank you again guys. spiral2.dwg Quote
Menolik Posted January 13, 2009 Author Posted January 13, 2009 ok, sorry about that, I use that routine al the time an never had that trouble. It actually did work well when I used it with just the object I needed flattened in a new file by itself. That was exactly what I needed. The rectangle was swept along this path perfectly. Quote
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