Pattern along helix NX8

[blitz97]

Hello all. I am trying to create a pattern of holes vertically along the outer diameter of a cylinder so the hole locations rotate as they move up the cylinder. I have drawn a helix and have tried to have the holes follow the curve up the cylinder with a new hole a given distance along the curve. However, when doing so, the holes will not follow the curve up the cylinder. The location of the holes make no sense and they arent even normal to the face of the cylinder when they do show up in odd places based on changes to the pulldown options in the pattern dialog. Anyone know the correct set of inputs to get this work or another methodolgy? Otherwise I am going to have to make many other hole features on datum planes going up the cylinder sides.
thanks

 

[JohnRBaker]

I'd take a slightly different approach (see attached model). BTW, this model is still fully parametric since you can edit both the Helix and the number of points in the Point Set which will update the Holes as well.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[blitz97]

Perfect. Guess I didnt realize the holes feature would maintain the face normalcy to the cylinder. Thanks so much John.

Just curious though...is the pattern feature not capable of doing the same?

 

[PSI-CAD]

Hi

I succeed to do the same with pattern feature. Check it but it seems that the normal is correct, but the part is bigger and longer to update


Regards
Didier Psaltopoulos

http://www.psi-cad.com

 

[blitz97]

Ah ha! Thanks @Didier...comparing your pattern model to mine I have found that the initial hole has to be put in using normal to face to be able to then pattern along the helix normal to the cylinder face. My initial hole was just on a datum plane on the cylinder surface.

Both methods appear to work.

thanks all.

 

[PSI-CAD]

Hi,

So, I am happy.

Have a look at the following part if you want to understand how to use "Reusable References" which can be use to update your normal datum plane during pattern


Regards
Didier Psaltopoulos

http://www.psi-cad.com

 

[TinaMS]

John,
Could you please post post your example in NX7.5? This could be quite useful to me! Thanks in advance! Tina

 

[JohnRBaker]

OK, attached is an NX 7.5 version of the sample file. Note that this version is actually a bit more parametric than the first one as I've created it so that you can edit the diameter of the cylinder and it will update correctly.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[TinaMS]

Awesome! The model is very adaptable and I was able to control everything by expression... Thank you!