Helix+Swept Cut and a Curve

michael_mcclain

I have a swept cable (circle) of constant diameter that runs along a path composed of sketch lines and fillets in an S shape. This is an armored cable and my client wants the helix cut armoring to be represented. My question is: Can I run a helix along this curving path to perform a thread-like cut along the cable? Does someone have an alternative idea so I can do this?

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/741763e1afe8154022dd9ee7/w/56d29bb710024777917516b6/e/ea9aeaa9ef434c9a9299bb58

konstantin_shiriazdanov

that requared 3 custom FS
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/ef9fa6faac8b07735caf069d/w/72628fde3e9fd77cd0298569/e/1d95747baca77b9b2ce8cce9

konstantin_shiriazdanov

the new algorithm for 3d inflection points handling seems to work good enough
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/f808efdf7d32c8ca78afee41/w/e0642d0e0b1ce441322e15d7/e/0bd10bd5485a79e22be1199b

konstantin_shiriazdanov

that requared 3 custom FS
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/ef9fa6faac8b07735caf069d/w/72628fde3e9fd77cd0298569/e/1d95747baca77b9b2ce8cce9

michael_mcclain

Thats what I needed! Thank you very much!

michael_mcclain

Where may I find these featurescripts? I cant locate them and I need them to add the armoring like the client has requested.

brucebartlett

Open the link feature script public doc.



Then add the feature script to your custom toolbar



It should appear for use in your part studio here, as you can see I have quite a few in my list.

michael_mcclain

I cant get the 3D spiral to work. It keeps trying to nearly overlap itself at one end and I can't figure out why. It causes my swept cut to fail because it intersects itselfI

konstantin_shiriazdanov

you may derive a sketch trajectory to the public doc, tell me spiral diameter and post a link here

michael_mcclain

I dont have the access to do that with this file. Using enterprise with proprietary data. Potential workaround: Is there a way to split a curve or perhaps cut a curve? If I can trim the part that acts weird, it can be successful

konstantin_shiriazdanov

is the wire axis made by spline? if so there possibly exist  a piece of spline of high curvature on the end, you could try to make it more linear

michael_mcclain

I thought of that, but the ends are very straight since this routes into connectors. I cant see how it justifies creating the ends where it doubles back on itself. Later today I will recreate the wire route in a separate document for you to have a look at

konstantin_shiriazdanov

you may look at the edge curvature in the context menu, and try to encrease the number of points in the 3D Spiral feature

michael_mcclain

Here is the cable and I recreated the exact conditions I'm dealing with. I cant get the 3D Spiral to act right at one end. It wants to double-back on itself and fails the regen on the swept cut

FYI I have basic knowledge of Featurescript at best. I did the tutorial, but I'm going to leave that realm to the experts.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/766fbcbb8a9c2196258e0f94/w/cb9e8bc9e88a5e7301db2b03/e/b849330e0df5fbfadfdf9382

konstantin_shiriazdanov

the new algorithm for 3d inflection points handling seems to work good enough
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/f808efdf7d32c8ca78afee41/w/e0642d0e0b1ce441322e15d7/e/0bd10bd5485a79e22be1199b

michael_mcclain

Thank you @konstantin_shiriazdanov! The swept cut seems to be operating well now. The only thing is that I am extruding a square shape and the profile rotates as it sweeps down the path versus keeping one line of the profile towards the rotation axis. Not a big issue at all and I'm thinking of just turning this to a circular profile just to have a uniform cut. This is exactly what I needed! My client will be ecstatic.

konstantin_shiriazdanov

michael_mcclain said:

The only thing is that I am extruding a square shape and the profile rotates as it sweeps down the path versus keeping one line of the profile towards the rotation axis.

search for Sweep normal FS for this, it uses the normal to the face to keep orientation of the profile, curves are not good for presize control of orientation

michael_mcclain

konstantin_shiriazdanov said:

michael_mcclain said:

The only thing is that I am extruding a square shape and the profile rotates as it sweeps down the path versus keeping one line of the profile towards the rotation axis.

search for Sweep normal FS for this, it uses the normal to the face to keep orientation of the profile, curves are not good for presize control of orientation

Thank you. Ill take a look at that one too. I have about 9 different cables to route this weekend so I hope that the feature can handle all the varying splines. Ill let you know if I'm successful with all of them or if I have any more issues. Much appreciated!

Cedric_Eveleigh

I would like to make a helix that follows a curved cylindrical path but I don't know how. I don't have access to the documents linked above. Can anybody help me with this?

konstantin_shiriazdanov

@cedric_eveleigh392 here is the document with the custom feature - https://cad.onshape.com/documents/59007ff281e43510ea3797a2/w/a6cb15bca8f1b2bf6e312ccd/e/8695694c2f658a05d1fb7da2

Cedric_Eveleigh

@konstantin_shiriazdanov
Thank you! Did you create this custom feature? It would be useful if it had functionality for controlling the angle at which the spiral starts, just like the helix tool.