3D Diamond Knurl surface finish

[aledtaylor79401]

Help!

I’m trying to produce a Diamond Knurl surface finish in AutoCAD 2004. I’ve tried the ‘Bump map’ feature from the ‘Modify Standard Material’ box but I’ve found the system unusable.

Is there a simple way to achieve this texture?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Have a look here - accustudio.com (http://www.accustudio.com/)

You might find a suitable material there...

Have a good one, Mike

[aledtaylor79401]

Hi

Thanks for the link.

I’ve solved the problem now, by other means (see attached image)

The parts shown are solid models.

I think the technique can be used to approximate any spiral feature as a solid.

If anyone’s interested, I’ll post details of how I did it (there are many details and diagrams in the explanation).

[Glenn Pope]

That looks nice. You should post it in the AutoCAD Gallery (http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=179).

[jaberwok]

Hi Aled (I hope that's right).

That's pretty good and, yes please, I would like to know how you did it.
One minor comment - I doubt that you would get a mirror finish on the real object. :-(

[Maverick91]

Hi

Thanks for the link.

I’ve solved the problem now, by other means (see attached image)

The parts shown are solid models.

I think the technique can be used to approximate any spiral feature as a solid.

If anyone’s interested, I’ll post details of how I did it (there are many details and diagrams in the explanation).Yes, do post this in the Gallery (http://www.augi.com/autocad/default.asp?page=736), and do tell how you accomplished this. Very cool!

[aledtaylor79401]

Knurling Solids:

In the X-Y plane, draw half an ellipse with the short axis representing the chosen diameter and the long axis 1.414x as big. (Determine the long axis length graphically to be precise (see diagram)).

In the X-Z plane, make a triangular region at one end of the elliptical line protruding 0.5mm towards the centre of the ellipse. Extrude the region along the elliptical path.

In the X-Z plane, rotate the strip 45 degrees. It should look semicircular when viewed in the X-Y plane.

Mirror the strip.

Calculate the number of grooves on the circumference. This will be around; circumference / 2, rounded off to the nearest whole number e.g. 16 grooves for a 10mm diameter.

Rotate the mirrored strip ½ a division, e.g. 360/32 degrees for a 10mm diameter.

Use the polar array command to produce all the groove features on the circumference.

Make a cylindrical solid with the chosen diameter. Place it to include the volume immediately above and below the centres of the strips.

Subtract all the strips from the cylinder (you may have to do this a few at a time).

With Ortho on, draw a horizontal line from an endpoint where 2 grooves cross immediately above the middle. Repeat for a point below the middle.

Using these lines, draw rectangles above and below the middle. Turn the rectangles into regions. Extrude the regions. Reposition and subtract them from the cylinder.

Mirror the cylinder to produce a longer length, (with Ortho on, use an endpoint on the upper surface).

If all is correct everything should join up perfectly and any length of knurl can be produced at that diameter.

[Wanderer]

Wow! Excellent explanation and I really like your illustrations, made it very easy to follow!


Knurling Solids:

In the X-Y plane, draw half an ellipse with the short axis representing the chosen diameter and the long axis 1.414x as big. (Determine the long axis length graphically to be precise (see diagram)).

In the X-Z plane, make a triangular region at one end of the elliptical line protruding 0.5mm towards the centre of the ellipse. Extrude the region along the elliptical path.

In the X-Z plane, rotate the strip 45 degrees. It should look semicircular when viewed in the X-Y plane.

Mirror the strip.

Calculate the number of grooves on the circumference. This will be around; circumference / 2, rounded off to the nearest whole number e.g. 16 grooves for a 10mm diameter.

Rotate the mirrored strip ½ a division, e.g. 360/32 degrees for a 10mm diameter.

Use the polar array command to produce all the groove features on the circumference.

Make a cylindrical solid with the chosen diameter. Place it to include the volume immediately above and below the centres of the strips.

Subtract all the strips from the cylinder (you may have to do this a few at a time).

With Ortho on, draw a horizontal line from an endpoint where 2 grooves cross immediately above the middle. Repeat for a point below the middle.

Using these lines, draw rectangles above and below the middle. Turn the rectangles into regions. Extrude the regions. Reposition and subtract them from the cylinder.

Mirror the cylinder to produce a longer length, (with Ortho on, use an endpoint on the upper surface).

If all is correct everything should join up perfectly and any length of knurl can be produced at that diameter.

[Spectrefish]

Hi Aled (I hope that's right).

That's pretty good and, yes please, I would like to know how you did it.
One minor comment - I doubt that you would get a mirror finish on the real object. :-(
You could flash chrome it!

[vishal1294]

Hi! Aled

I am newbee to AutoCad. Can you please give me more brieg details. I am working in Brass Manufacturing Inustry. It requires knurl more offenly.