How the Heck Is This Made? Creating SolidWorks Spirals, Sweeps and Helixes

by Josh on October 1, 2008 · Comments

spiral modeled in solidworksThere is really an endless amount of interesting object you can make with SolidWorks and a lot of interesting and unusual way to get there. Some readers on the Most Obscure Feature Combo post had excellent ideas and I even got a few via email. This crazy spiral, by Jeff Mowrey (@idesignhaus on Twitter) of Industrial Designhaus, LLC, is one of them.

The way he went about creating it is very well thought out. Have any idea how it was done?

Take a guess in the comments and I’ll post the file for you to download. What about other helix and spiral-type features and parts? Are there easy ways to create them and use them in your designs?

Here’s a few examples for you to have a look at – examples of how you can create some complicated looking spirals within a single feature. Oh, and all the rendered images here… done with Photoview360 – the new rendering engine (from Luxology) that comes packaged with SolidWorks 2009 Professional and Premium. NICE.

Simple Twist Sweep
The most basic and simple way to get a helical, springy looking shape. A Path, a profile, and a sweep – Twist along path.
solidworks spring helix sweep
Download Simple Twist Sweep (798kb) SolidWorks09 File

Oval Curve Sweep
I’ve used this method on some lighting design and ideas for VIP yacht interiors. You can use a sketch to make a curve as well.

Download Oval Curve Sweep (1263kb) SolidWorks09 File

Spline Twist Sweep
You can use this for the curvy bits on plastics bottles around the label areas. The secret is using compound curves for a path.
solidworks spring curve sweep
Download Spline Twist Sweep (292kb) SolidWorks09 File

Step Helix Sweep
Circular stairways in SolidWorks. This is the quick, easy way to get there.
solidworks circular stair sweep
Download Step Helix Sweep (265kb) SolidWorks09 File

Jeff’s Spiral Spiral Spiral
Now what would you use this for huh? Well, you can use the concept for items with decreasing radii or details of

Download SpiralSpiralSpiral (2770kb) SolidWorks09 File

ADDED!! – Hourglass Spring
Mia, down in the comments, asked how you would go about creating a spring in the shape of a hourglass. Here’s the image of it and the file download.
spiral hourglass spring helix
Download Hourglass Spring

Tips for spirals and helix
Helix or sweep? – A Helix gives you more control over pitch. A helix can lay the foundation for a sweep.
End in Mind – What shape are you trying to achieve. Start with that in mind.
Sketch it – The first curve you draw is most likely the path you’ll need.
Profiles – Curvy? Lay out multiple profiles on different planes to see what gets you close to your shape
Twist – Over extend it if necessary. You can always trim bits off.

Try working with the surfacing sweeps if you’re making fiberglass or plastic parts. If you don’t know it to well, you’ll learn what does and doesn’t work and what to ask. Don’t be afraid to try it new ways that make it easier. Ok, so I’m getting off into surfacing instead of these crazy helixes, but sometimes you just gotta rock it surface-style.

Ya got some helix, spiral, sweepy models? How the heck do you make them?

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Tagged as: 3d, Add new tag, helix, SolidWorks Tips, spirals

  • JP
    Simple Twist Sweep = Error 404 No file found
  • Thanks JP, I've fixed the link, it should work now!
  • CADWatcher
    The file simple-twist-sweep.SLDPRT seems to be corrupted, I get 23 kb instead of 798 announced...
  • CADWatcher
    Ooops, sorry, it's Ok now (I think i just tried when you uploaded te file ;-)
  • jeff b
    I wish my job brought modeling challenges like this to me, however dealing 90% of the time with sheet materials(metal, wood, acrylic) makes for bland vanilla modeling.
  • jeff b
    http://picasaweb.google.com/jbareDesign/Solidwo...

    hmm, well rocking 07 stil at work here, so i couldn't check out the model. couldn't figure out how take the normally straight tapered helix sketch into a 360 degree bend. ended up using the flex feature, ah well check out the pic ^
  • Hey Jeff, very cool. Jeff Mowrey used some spiral sweeps, intersecting 3D sketches and compound curves to make the final sweep taper. There's, as is usual with SolidWorks, several ways to create it.

    I work with the typical stuff a lot too, but I started seeing how surfacing and some of the other less used features, could help with what I was working on. I found surfacing can make some sheet metal operation easier. Mixing things up can bring about some great results. Try it out!
  • Decay
    The first file is there, there's just a problem with the linkage. Paste the link into your browser of choice, and delete the "/public_html/" part of the URL. No problem. :)
  • Thanks, good catch. I fixed the link so everyone could download it now.
  • hop
    Are these done in SW 2009?

    I can't open them...
  • Yeah, sorry, they are created in SolidWorks 2009. I just got our company all loaded up from 2007 and the switch has been pretty smooth so far. Just a few comments on getting use to the new look and some new features I've been showing them.
  • I love Spirals
  • Dennis Hvam
    Hey Josh, super homepage!

    Is there any way that you should save the "pretty spirals and helix's" :) is a 2008 Version. Some IT-admins are pretty far behind regarding the rollour of 2009.

    Thanks for all the info :)

    Dennis Hvam - Denmark.
  • sorry Dennis, unfortunately I can't save down to previous versions. If I did this last week, they would have been in 07. Now ya have a reason to upgrade :)
  • Gabriel
    Can someone explain to me, why to use composite curve's?

    Like in Jeff’s Spiral Spiral Spiral, he converts his 3D sketches to composit curvers first before using them to perform the last surface sweep. Why's that? Why not just use only the 3D Sketch itself?
  • Yes Gabriel, you can use the 3D sketches to get the same result. many get in the habit of using them. Typically the'y be used when you need to links separate curves together.
  • mia
    Thanks for posting. Does anyone know how to form a spring that maintains the shape of an hour glass or a bottle?
  • Since a sweep twisting along path can't follow a guide curve you couldn't do it that way. You'll use a method like Jeff used to 1)create an hourglass revolved surface 2)create a helix through that surface 3)create a3D sketch through the intersecting surfaces 4)sweep a profile along the path. Here's an example file of a Hourglass spring.
  • rob
    I'm trying to make a compound surface using "lofted surface". From the top view, its a slight S curve, between profiles, and a slight curve from the right profile . i am having difficulty doing this. its allowing me only one curve, either top of right view, using the center parameters spline. i've been trying to use both curves as a guide in multiple settings . does anyone have any suggestions??
  • Hey Rob. Take a look at this Surface Loft with Compound Curve. For compound curves, 3D sketches are the secret. I remember this being a bit harder to do way back in the early days, but 3D sketches make curves in two axis really simple. hope this is close to what you're trying to do!
  • rob m.
    Josh, thank you for you help. Unfortunately, i had to switch back to SW 2007, bc my trial version ran out (starving designer), so i couldn't open your link. I made a lot of progress before i had to switch back and now it looks like i cant save the part file so it works in SW 2007. is that possible? any suggestions? Thanks again bro
  • Hey Rob, unfortunately there's no way to save a file to a previous version. there have been many an argument about this. It pretty much forces people to upgrade at some point.
  • peter
    hi,

    How you create the 3dsketch for hour glass spring?

    thanks
  • Hi Peter, you just need to create a surface in an hourglass shape, then a helix, then a 3D sketch that and use 'Intersection Curves' in the Sketch Tools. You can create a lot of useful ref geometry with the intersection guides!
  • peter
    Hi Josh,
    I got it. Thank you.
  • mira
    Hi, I have SW 2008 and i can't open the parts. Can you save them as 2008 please?I am interested in horglass spring. Thanks a lot, Mira.
  • Hi Mira, I'm out of the country currently, I'll do my best to convert the hourglass spring. I tell the basic steps two comments above. Revolved surface in hourglass shape, create a helix, then use the Intersection Curves command to projects a path onto the hourglass shape that you can then sweep a path along. swoosh.
  • mira
    Thanks for answering me Josh, I appreciate that. The thing is I'm still a beginner in SolidWorks and some of the things I just can't get them right that's why I ned to see how they were done before.
    Mira
  • Christian Mackin
    I am trying to create true logarithmic spirals. Does anyone know how to do that in Solidworks?
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