PartDesign SubtractiveHelix

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PartDesign SubtractiveHelix

Menu location
PartDesign → Create a subtractive feature → Subtractive helix
Workbenches
PartDesign
Default shortcut
None
Introduced in version
0.19
See also
None

File:SubtractiveHelix overview example.png
Sketch (B) is swept around axis (A) resulting in a helical groove (C)

Description

The Helix tool creates a solid by sweeping a selected sketch or 2D object along a helix path.

File:Helix overview.png

The profile (B), is swept around axis (A) in order to produce the solid helix (C)

Usage

  1. Select the sketch to be swept into a helix. A face on the existing solid can alternatively be used.
  2. Press the AdditiveHelix button.
  3. Set the Helix parameters (see next section).
  4. Inspect the Helix in the view window, to ensure that the parameters do not result in a self intersecting helix.
  5. Press OK.

Options

When creating an Additive Helix, the Helix parameters dialogue offers several parameters specifying how the sketch should be swept.

File:Parameter dialog for AdditiveHelix tool.png

Axis

This option specifies the axis about which the sketch is to be swept.

  • Vertical sketch axis: selects the vertical sketch axis.
  • Horizontal sketch axis: selects the horizontal sketch axis.
  • Construction line: selects a construction line contained in the sketch used by the Helix. The drop down list will contain an entry for each construction line. The first construction line created in the sketch will be labelled Construction line 1.
  • Base (X/Y/Z) axis: selects the X, Y or Z axis of the Body's Origin;
  • Select reference...: allows selection in the 3D view of an edge on the Body, or a datum line.

Mode

This controls what parameters will be used to define the helix, Allowable choices are: Pitch-Height, Pitch-Turns and Height-Turns.

Pitch

The distance between turns in the helix.

Height

The height of the helix (center-center).

Turns

The number of turns in the helix. Define as Height/Pitch

Left handed

If checked, the turning direction of helix is reversed from default clockwise to counterclockwise.

Reversed

If checked, the axis direction of helix is reversed from default.

Update view

If checked, the helix will be shown in the view, and updated automatically on every change of the parameters.

Properties

Below are properties which can be defined after creation of the feature.

  • DataPitch: The axial distance between two turns.
  • DataHeight: The total length of the helix (not accounting for the extent of the profile)
  • DataTurns: The number of turns (do not need to be a whole number)
  • DataLeft Handed:
  • DataReversed: true or false. See Reversed.
  • DataAngle: Not used.
  • DataReference axis: The the helix axis
  • DataMode: The helix input mode (pitch-height, pitch-turns, turns-height)
  • DataOutside: Not used (Used in SubtractiveHelix)
  • DataHas Been Edited: If false, the tool will propose an initial value for pitch based on the profile bounding box, so that self intersection is avoided.
  • DataRefine: true or false. If set to true, cleans the solid from residual edges left by features. See Part RefineShape for more details.
  • DataProfile: Either a sketch containing a closed contour, or a face.
  • DataMidplane: Not used.
  • DataUp to face: Not used.
  • DataAllow multiple face: Not used.

Examples