How to tackle this one?

[HaroldL]

I went back and did some clean-up on the Boolean part for this model. The package file contains the updated model and Boolean part. And I uploaded the Boolean 2way slot tool separately so anyone can "experiment" with it although it will be downloaded in the package file too.

The result of the clean-up is that it adds a lead-in at the top of the slot and there is no need to Remove Faces on the model after the Boolean feature.




I recorded a short video that explains, I hope, clearly enough the what and how for this model.

Helical Slot Boolean.mp4

Shared from Screencast.com

www.screencast.com

Hello @HaroldL ,

would you mind making the hole from your boolean part smaller, like 3mm (for a much thicker wall of the tube...) and post the result?

Regards
Stefan

As I explained in the video, there are parameters in the model that can be edited to change the size of the Boolean tool to whatever you may need. Hopefully that will help with your request.

As I recall, there used to be a place on Alibre.com for sample scripts. I cannot find that now that the web site has been redesigned. In that list of sample scripts there was one that would create a helical slot by mimicking the movement of a cutter along a helical path. It left a series of small circular faces from the cutter but the end result didn't look that bad. Maybe, if anyone knows what happened to that script, it could be downloaded to give it a try for this modeling task.

 

[idslk]

Hopefully that will help with your request.

Sorry, but not in the way i would like...could you make an assembly and add as 2nd part the plug that fits?

Regards
Stefan

 

[HaroldL]

As I recall, there used to be a place on Alibre.com for sample scripts.

After some digging I found the script:

Tool Cutting

Simulates a cylinder being cut into by another cylinder (e.g. an endmill). The "cutting tool" follows a helical path around the stock. # cylinder dimensions Diameter = 20 Length = 100 # cutter dimensions CutterDiameter = 5 # angle ...

alibre.freshdesk.com

 

[MilesH]

From way back: https://www.alibre.com/forum/index.php?threads/quarter-turn-fastener-pic.2590/

 

[HaroldL]

could you make an assembly and add as 2nd part the plug that fits?

Stefan, Is this what you have in mind? I modeled the "plug" as my best guess off the image of the Switch lever in a previous post.

 

[OzBrand]

It wasn't difficult at all, and only took a few minutes.

A few minutes is what I was hoping for! Yep, we're metric in this part of the world, from mid 70's IIRC. Anyway, thanks all for your input, time to put this baby to bed.

Cheers, Mike

 

[OzBrand]

I recorded a short video that explains, I hope, clearly enough the what and how for this model.

Terrific explainer vid btw Harold. Much appreciated, thanks.

 

[idslk]

Stefan, Is this what you have in mind?

Yes, and if you have constained the plug to the middele axis you can try to manually move the plug along the way (if we would have a "polyline constraint" it would be very easy...). If you do this, you will notice that the "guide pin" does not have an ideal contact to the curve. I haven't figured out how to get nearer to the "toolcuting" path (where the script was made by Andy after i made a manual proposal how to do it...Later it was copied to the support section...). What is your opinion to the amount of work you put into your solution (btw. nice work)?

Regards
Stefan

 

[HaroldL]

Yes, and if you have constained the plug to the middele axis you can try to manually move the plug along the way (if we would have a "polyline constraint" it would be very easy...). If you do this, you will notice that the "guide pin" does not have an ideal contact to the curve. I haven't figured out how to get nearer to the "toolcuting" path (where the script was made by Andy after i made a manual proposal how to do it...Later it was copied to the support section...). What is your opinion to the amount of work you put into your solution (btw. nice work)?

Regards
Stefan

Stefan, Yes I did constrain the plug to the axis of the part. I then moved it along the slot and noticed that there are some places where it is a bit tight for the pin to navigate through the slot. I tried applying a Tangent constraint but that didn't work.

Once I got the idea to incorporate two helical features to create the slot feature it didn't take too long to create it. Fine tuning it is what takes the time.

Looking at the solution that @MilesH posted a link to seems like it may be a better solution but it would take me some time to figure out the settings for the helix since I haven't done much with the Helical tool other than screw threads and an occasional spring.

What Alibre needs is something akin to the Advanced Swept Cut feature that SolidWorks has. That will sweep a cutting tool along a path more like actual machining the feature on a part. I think that is what the Tool Cutting script by Brian Vieira I linked to in my previous post attempts to do. Is that the script you mentioned?

 

[idslk]

Cutting script by Brian Vieira

original script...LINK

Regards
Stefan

 

[MilesH]

Looking at the solution that @MilesH posted a link to seems like it may be a better solution but it would take me some time to figure out the settings for the helix since I haven't done much with the Helical tool other than screw threads and an occasional spring.

What Alibre needs is something akin to the Advanced Swept Cut feature that SolidWorks has. That will sweep a cutting tool along a path more like actual machining the feature on a part. I think that is what the Tool Cutting script by Brian Vieira I linked to in my previous post attempts to do. Is that the script you mentioned?

It would be great to have that Advanced Swept Cut feature......

More on this theme from the archive:

Dzus Fastener - 4th axis machining help needed

I am trying to model a Dzus fastener and am not able to figure out how to get the twisting cut in the end. I've tried sweep cut along path with no luck. Image a cutter spinning and a cylinder (perpendicular to the cutter) pushed through the cutter. While it is pushed through, it also rotates...

www.alibre.com

How can accurate Flute Geometry be generated in Alibre ?

How can accurate Flute Geometry be generated in Alibre ? I have heard that this is diificult if not impossible in Alibre, and in other Cad systems as well. This includes the "Runout", or "end" of the flute. Any suggestions ? > Barry :)

www.alibre.com

 

[idslk]

Sorry for the different geometry... (I've used a picture of an bayonet comming from my memory for the design...)
Also it's more concept of how it could work...:


Regards
Stefan

 

[HaroldL]

Sorry for the different geometry... (I've used a picture of an bayonet comming from my memory for the design...)
Also it's more concept of how it could work...:
View attachment 37127

Regards
Stefan

That's a lot of points, planes and sketches. Were they created with a script or manually?

 

[idslk]

Were they created with a script or manually?

the first test ist ofcourse manually. These are all the "same sketches" copied along the 3D-sketch-Planes. Not sure if it is worth to make a script for that...

Regards
Stefan