Helix, Unwrap to Sketch

william_holden959

I'd like to be able to draw a helix, flatten it to a sketch, alter it and then have it convert back to the helix with the changes. Sketch Wrapper is a great solution, but I'd ultimately I'd like to use a helix to base it off of. Thanks!

william_holden959

Another thing...maybe... Potentially you could make a helix out of any closed loop on a sketch, why limit it to circles.

william_holden959

I don't know if this has any life left, but to clarify what I was thinking... You start with a helix by defining a starting point (degrees) and other parameters (pitch/revolutions etc)...After the helix is created you'd have the option to edit it with a sketch (unwrap). Then you'd get a sketch with the starting point and endpoint and a straight line that represents the helix. You could make the line a construction line where the endpoints stay fixed. Then you could create anything in-between the endpoints. The start and end positions (degrees with pitch, revolutions, etc) are all preserved, but the profile of the helix is changeable.

To clarify the other comment about the profile of helix is kind of a different topic, but theoretically the concept of a helix could be expanded to include square shapes or any closed loop for that matter - it shouldn't have to just be for circles (or cylinders).

lougallo

@william_holden959 I think this is a situation where using our FeatureScript to have a custom tool built might be a better solution.

john_mcclary

Have you tried using sheet-metal and sketching on the flat pattern?

I do this for my projects and it works very well.

for example adding extended tabs for roll form feeding:

Circled areas were added with a flat pattern sketch

william_holden959

lougallo said:

@william_holden959 I think this is a situation where using our FeatureScript to have a custom tool built might be a better solution.

Probably so. I found a work-around and the feature would probably get limited use.