View Full Version : Drawing on a curved surface.
jjseeker
2007-11-29, 05:22 PM
I am currently using ACAD Mech. 2007 and I need to draw a serpentine groove into a piston (3D of course) and I have to admit I'm at a bit of a loss here, starting to think it can't be done, could someone confirm either way for me and if it possible which tools do I use. I'm not looking for a step by step on how to do it, just a shove in the right direction. Thanks for any suggestions.
MQ
jaberwok
2007-11-29, 07:34 PM
Hi MQ, welcome to AUGI.
Are you talking about a helical (spiral) groove? That has been possible (but not easy) for several releases of vanilla acad so I'm sure it should be possible in MDT.
If not, could you post a sketch of what you need?
jjseeker
2007-12-10, 10:17 PM
Hi Jaberwok,
Sorry it took so long to respond I thought I had subscribed to e-mail notifications if someone replied.
Basically I have a cylinder shaped piece with a through hole on the radiused edge and a slot on the other quadrent points (see pic), the "o-ring" groove winds in a serpentine shape over the through hole and under the slot. I'm thinking of drawing it flat and then bending it around, unforunately I can't devote as much time as I like to solving these sorts of problems but it make life a little more interesting and me a little smarter, thanks for your interest.
MQ
dzatto
2007-12-19, 03:41 PM
This is extremely rough, I only spent a few minutes on it. But, is this close to what you needed?
My groove is square instead of rounded, but with a little more tinkering I can make it look rounded.
AkSledDog
2012-01-15, 01:40 AM
This is very similar to my project. Was just wondering how you did it?
Extrude a profile along a spline path?
I'm using AutoCAD 2011
Kenny Koala
2013-06-18, 12:14 AM
Hi dzatto,
I really need to know how you did this. I have a very similar problem trying to draw fan blades. I am at a loss and need help desperately. Please help.
dzatto
2013-06-19, 02:30 PM
Kenny,
I started using Revit about 5 years ago, and haven't touched Acad since. I honestly don't remember how I did it. I'll try to remember and report back if I do. Sorry.
JD Mather
2013-07-09, 11:14 PM
... ... I'm sure it should be possible in MDT.....
The OP indicates AutoCAD Mechanical, not MDT (Mechanical Desktop).
MDT has not been sold as a product by Autodesk since Feb 2002 (given away for free with Inventor).
MDT was completely discontinued in 2009.
This is actually a bit of a tricky problem to get correct manufacturable geometry.
Here is a tutorial that might work in AutoCAD
http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/DSG322/Inventor%20Tutorials/Inventor%2011%20Tutorial%2011.pdf
there are now two easier ways to do it in Autodesk Inventor (Surface controlled Sweep or a built in Design Accelerator tool).
The usual Extrude on path or Sweep will not create correct geometry (this type of problem has a long history that I can link if anyone interested). The test is to animate with a pin in the groove and check for interference.
jaberwok
2013-07-11, 10:20 PM
The OP indicates AutoCAD Mechanical, not MDT (Mechanical Desktop).
MDT has not been sold as a product by Autodesk since Feb 2002 (given away for free with Inventor).
MDT was completely discontinued in 2009.
...
Note date of post. Where were you 5.5 years ago?
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.