helix spring problem... how to add ref planes on each end?

[USAeng]

I have a spring that was made using 2 circles one small for the spring diameter and the other for I guess you would call the sweep diameter...

The spring is there but I cant seem to figure out how to add a ref plane on each end so I can mate the spring to other parts... basically I want the 2 planes to sandwich the spring

This has to be easy but Im a newbie... thanks!

 

[SnowCrash]

One plane normal to the spring axis is defined by your sketch plane. The other end is parallel at a point defined by the end of the sweep curve, or offset by the radius, or a point on the end defined in a sketch, however you want it.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 4.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

[mjcole]

The helix feature which I believe was used for the spring feature, gets grouped under the Sweep feature just like the other sketches being used for it. The Helix feature requires a Circle sketch which also gets grouped under the helix curve.

The first plane you need should be there already as the helix sketch plane. To create the other plane, show the helix Feature and select the end and the first plane which is normal to the helix axis. to create a center axis you can select the center point of the big circle and it's plane as references.

Another thing to consider is creating an extruded cut to flatten the ends of the spring so they can be used for your mate references

Michael

 

[USAeng]

the plane I made the spring on intersects the spring at the center of its diameter on the bottom... I have to make a plane that is parallel to that on the bottom of the springs diameter... on the top of the spring there is no plane at all... and for some reason probably becuase of it being a solid surface or something it will not let me make points on the cirle that is the end of the spring on the top... I thought that you should be able to highlight the different quadrant points on the bottom and top circles at the beginning and end of the spring but it doesnt do that... still confused sorry

 

[TheTick]

Do not use the actual helix for your sweep. Use a 3D sketch that copies the helix using "Convert Entities". Sometimes helixes don't like to be selected once they have been used for a feature.

Honesty may be the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[USAeng]

I just got your post there mjcole.... I did a spring myself which seemed to work better as I flattened the ends and that seemed to work well and got 2 planes from doing that... but this is a spring someone else made which does not have flat ends...

 

[USAeng]

thanks tick... I will try that too

 

[USAeng]

ok got it... I converted the 2 faces beginning and end circles on the helix in a 3d sketch... this let me at a centerline down to the bottom quadrant and then made a plane there and then added an axis in the middle of the spring then a line over to the top quadrant of the top of the spring then I got plane on top... as always I mess around enough and eventually get it... maybe someday I will have actual methods of getting exactly what I want... for now Im a newb and I must do trial and error until the program does what I want. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[USAeng]

ok this is crazy... I have the same spring basically in another drawing... but now the method I just used wont work... the only difference I can tell is that the spring starts on stops on a plane where the other one Im having new troubles with starts on a plane and then ends at 45 degrees between 2 planes... so the convert entities in the 3d sketch is saying the top spring face can not be projected onto the plane... even the bottom one works and I draw the centerline to the bottom of the face and then when I go to add the ref plane the line disappears even though I know it is still there in a sketch... sorry Im such a beginner...

 

[USAeng]

OK I got it again... solidworks is quirky... jeez