Spiral Settings

Specify the feature settings in the dialog box. Do either of the following:

• Edit the spiral data by double clicking the the feature symbol in the part feature tree.
• Open the spiral data with the context-sensitive function Edit operation.

Familiarize yourself with the features by following the links below.

• Axis Line
• Delete reference geometry
• Spiral spinning direction
• Pitch
• Formula
• Threads
• Start radius
• End radius
• Start exceeding
• End exceeding
• Start point
• Variable pitch at begin / end
• Apply

Axis Line

Select the axis line visible to help locating the spiral. Its length is equal to the height of the spiral. If the spiral is coincident with a face, the length of the center line is equal to the average of the radius, and its center point is in the middle of the spiral.

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Delete reference geometry

Hide the reference geometry by selecting the function. If the model contains other geometry in addition to the reference geometry used in modeling the spiral, this function will hide it as well. The guide curve and cross sections are not hidden. The reference geometry is usually hidden when modeling springs.

For example, the spiral is automatically added to a conical reference geometry (A), which is visible (B), or hidden (C).

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Spiral spinning direction

Defines whether the spiral begins Clockwise (A) or Counter-clockwise (B). Select either of the following:

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Pitch

Defines the thread's advance in the direction of an axis in millimeters per rotation (360°).

The spiral is added to a cylindrical surface (A). The thread advance, pitch (B) per rotation, is illustrated in the parallel projection. The axis of the thread (B) has been drawn in the picture for clarity.

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Formula

Define the feature's variable.

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Threads

Defines the number of threads with an advance in the direction of an axis, compare to Pitch.

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Start radius

Specify the radius of the spiral beginning. The default is zero. Specify the radius value in relation to the center point of the spiral.

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End radius

Specify the radius of the spiral end. The default is zero. Specify the radius value in relation to the center point of the spiral.

Example: The spiral's radius value is zero in the picture A and greater than zero in picture B.

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Start exeeding

Defines the offset of the spiral's start point in relation to the selected geometry. If the start point is exceeded, the offset is positive (+). If the spiral starts before the start point, the offset is negative (-). If necessary, you can select a point from the spiral reference geometry by first clicking the Click button.

If you want to model a spiral in order to indicate reference geometry offset, you can select a guide curve and select the point from the guide curve (see Start point).

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End exeeding

Defines the offset of the spiral's start point in relation to the selected geometry. If the start point is exceeded, the offset is positive (+). If the spiral ends before the end point, the offset is negative (-). If necessary, you can select a point from the spiral reference geometry by first clicking the Click button.

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Start point

Drafting a spiral starts in the origin of the cylinder. When you sketch a cylinder or click a radius point of the cylinder in the sketch, the selected point is the origin. The spiral always starts at the top of the extruded cylinder.

If necessary, you can select a new start point position from the reference geometry.

If you want to model a spiral in order to indicate the reference geometry start point, you can select a guide curve and position the spiral at the guide curve point (A). The guide curve can also extend outside the planar face. Click the Click button and click a point (B) on the guide curve line to set it as the start point of the spiral. The point is projected to the border line of the planar face and defined as the start point of the spiral.

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Variable pitch at begin / end

Define a variable pitch at begin or end or in both of the spiral. Drag a slide control to select steepness of the pitch. The maximum of the variable pitch at the begin and end together is 100% and the software adjusts the other slider automatically.

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Apply

Preview by clicking the Apply button. If necessary, you can still edit the feature data before accepting the data.

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