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Modeled Threads
luke_rose802
Member Posts: 2 ✭
OnShape is severely lacking in a threading tool. The current threading tool only makes cosmetic, projected threads that are not preserved when a part is exported as an object file. Making threads manually with a sweep and a boolean subtract with an offset takes much longer than it should and is rather inconsistent for making well-functioning threads as the user needs to manually choose the profile of the thread.
OnShape would do well to make the threading tool properly model threads rather than just projecting an image of threads onto the part.
Comments
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5c0528b62c1fbb13a2a0e739/w/9f9185ce078357d93c7d0853/e/b2ea3d8356d9673fbe6024c9
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6b640a407d78066bd5e41c7a/w/4693805578a72f40ebfb4ea3/e/7886aa5aee640497f4eb6265
Modeled threads are computationally expensive and can therefore slow down performance. Most people don't need them modeled as they won't be CNC machined in a traditional sense but will use special tools. People that need to machine them from scratch will likely also need to manually model them as it might be a very specific geometry.
Most of the time when people want to have modeled threads it is because people want to 3d print them for prototyping or their hobby projects.
@luke_rose802 @David_YL_Nguyen
There are feature scripts out there to do those modeled treads. I agree, though, that Onshape lacks a method of creating treads in a way that can be preserved when exporting. Even a CNC shop likes to know which holes do have threads, after all. That does not necessarily require a fully modeled thread, but it would be nice, if e.g. a thread could be represented by adding a cylindrical face to the hole in order to reference the inner diameter of a thread.
I believe that could be a job for a FS, too, but I am no scripting wizard. That FS would look up all hole features existing, determine their thread size (if any) and create a cylindrical face inside, representing inner diameter and depth of the thread. I would find that quite helpful in e.g. a STEP export.