Sweep and rotate profile along helix

[jdowsett]

I have a sketch in the x-y plane. (in case it's relevant it's defined from two datumn curves and an outside edge).

I would like to sweep it (as a cut) along a helix that propogates in the z direction (ie, in the xy plane it appears circular, centred at the origin). I have defined said helix as a datumn curve, don't know if this is necessary or not.

If I remember rightly I eventually got something from variable section sweep - however, this maintained the orientation of the sketch.

What I need to do is have the sketch/profile rotate it's orientation about (x,y)=(0,0) as it moves down the helix, such that the outside edge is always the outside edge.

I think what I achieved with the vss was that the sketch origin moved about the xy plane in a circular fashion matching the displacement of the helix, and no rotation of the sketch plane occurred. It looked very odd!


It has been suggested that a helical sweep would work - but the options appear to be to define the profile normal to trajectory or in a plane through the axis - I'd like it in a plane normal to the axis.

Am using WF3.


Thanks!

 

[dgallup]

If I understand your requirements properly, take a look at the last model on this link, I think it will do exactly what you want. The key is to use a variable section sweep.

http://www.mcadcentral.com/proe/files/gallery.asp?action=browse&categoryid=49&whichpage=10

 

[aafuni]

jdowsett,
Try this one out. It is a variable section sweep with two trajectories. If you define a second trajectory and place a corner of the profile you are sweeping on each trajectory, the sketch will spin to follow the trajectory.

 

[jdowsett]

Many thanks for the input - I finally solved it this evening.

For info I couldn't open the second example above, maybe it was created with WF4?

Yep - I created a straight trajectory coinciding with the x & y plane intersections, then also created a helix trajectory (rotating about that x-y plane intersection, and moving linearly in the z direction) which I used as reference for the x-direction. The sweep was then a constant section.

Cheers folks!

 

[aafuni]

Yeah I used WF4, sorry. Glad you figured it out.