how to twist a plane

[mckenziewesley]

Hi,

I want to draw a vertical rectangle who's bottom edge is anchored in place and the top twisted 360 degrees about its normal line. So, it would basically follow a helical pattern. However I have tried extruding along a helical path, I have also tried to use the sweep command.

Honestly, I am a new user and have no idea what I'm doing. It seems like this should be possible, but, I cannot find a good reference for it. So, any help that anyone can provide would be extremely helpful!

Best regards,

Wesley McKenzie

[mckenziewesley]

So, should I assume that this is completely NOT possible to do in AutoCAD?

[MikeRobinson]

I have attached a file of what I think you want, but this is only lofted, using the twist (180 degrees) along a perpendicular path.

[MikeRobinson]

Try the tutorials at the following website.
You can email the site for the .DWG tutorial drawings.

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/CAD238/AutoCAD_2007_Tutorials.htm

Regards

Mike

[mckenziewesley]

yep, that is pretty much the idea of what i want. Now, how did you do that? will the tutorials listed in Mike's message help me figure out what you did?

Best regards,

Wes

[MikeRobinson]

twist the rectangle through 180 degrees through a perpendicular line which is central to the rectangle. If you break down the drawing which I posted, you will see the path I have used.
Have you used the "Twist" command before.
the Twist command is triggered when you select "Sweep"...

"Select sweep path or [Alignment/Base point/Scale/Twist]: twist
Enter twist angle or allow banking for a non-planar sweep path [Bank]<0.0000>:
180
Select sweep path or [Alignment/Base point/Scale/Twist]:"


Regards

Mike.

[mckenziewesley]

awesome, thank you very much! I was so very very close but wasn't quite there.

[jvicario]

Look at this web site: http://a-cad-emia.blogspot.com/2011/04/helices.html