Issues with external & internal threads

[MakinStuff]

I have recently been having issues with external and internal threading. I have recently searched the forum and found no solutions. I know how to model them and show them with cosmetic threads, but I was wondering if anyone knew how to:

a) change the default thread pattern for the cosmetic threads. (It's ugly)

b) Make external threading that is transferable to featureCAM.

c) when using a slotted hole in a model, with the hole bottoming out at the slot, how do you get the cosmetic threads to show on the remaining sides?

ex. of c) a cross slot with a 5/16-18 flat bottom hole wizard hole. (bottoming at slot bottom) I know how to regenerate the cosmetic thread on two of the four sides without adding any scaled images to the surfaces, but two surfaces remain smooth.

please help my head hurts.

 

[MakinStuff]

Also another addition to that... internal left hand threading. can it be done? if so how?

thanks

 

[fcsuper]

I'm not sure how much this will help since your request is very particular, but here is an article on how to make threads in various ways with SolidWorks:

Theading options in SolidWorks



Matt Lorono
Lorono's SolidWorks Resources & SolidWorks Legion

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks & http://twitter.com/fcsuper

 

[Eltron]

That's also faq559-1492.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[Updraft]

As far as FeatureCam goes you should not need to do anything other than let it see the SolidWorks model. (If you create a dumb solid from SWX for FC to use all you'll get is the holes.) The current version of FeatureCam (for milling) can read the threaded hole data and will put in the proper pilot drill and tap.

External threading would be a lathe part. I do not have experience with FC for that, but you should ask your FC VAR or even check its skimpy Help files.

Under no circumstances should you have to model the actual threads for the subsequent NC programming.

I have read your item c) several times and still cannot picture the feature. Please post a sample file to help us understand.

- - -Updraft

 

[MakinStuff]

thanks guys just got back from a conference in Chicago. Turns out featurecam knows about the issue and it "should" be fixed in the 2012 edition.

as far as the other issues go, I've decided to stick with cosmetic threads for a lot of reasons, but does anyone know how to convert a jpeg to the solidworks appearance file type so I can map it onto the model?