Help with tubes that have v notch spirals

KE6CVH · 10 Oct 2012, 17:33

Hello,

Just purchased a Makerbot 1st generation replicator in dual color. Downloaded sketchup. Installed shape bender plugin. Spent about 3 days trying to replicate the steps in the youtube video for making a bolt with shape bender. Came to the conclusion that I'm not smarter than a 5th grader when it comes to sketchup and just about any 12 year old will probably leave me in the dust with sketchup.
I'm going to use the makerbot to make some prototype parts for something I'm making on the side from my regular job here.
I'm perfectly willing to pay someone if necessary and take a hit on my pride to get me going with this as I seem to be in a "hair on fire" mode to get going on the next stage of my prototype to be able to build exact parts around forms (made by the makerbot) instead of winding by hand.
The latest stage that seems to hang me up on the bolt video is getting the lifted half circle to connect to the other line and line up properly on the green axis. Then it won't shape bend because I'm assuming it all is not layed out properly. Was able to get shape bender to work on lettering with a straight and half circle.
My lates inclination is to just find someone to assist and then work up from simpler projects as time permits.

Very best regards,
Mike

Dave R · 10 Oct 2012, 17:45

I think you need a different approach to drawing the threads. It can be done without any plugins at all if you want. what is the desired pitch of the threads? What are the major and minor diameters.

KE6CVH · 10 Oct 2012, 18:03

Hi Dave, The V notches will be .101 inches wide and .101 inches deep. The spacing between the notches will be .101 inches. The tubes will be 2", 1.5", 1.0", .75", .50" diameters. Lengths will be 3",2",1.5",1.0",0.75" long respectively. It is important that I can subtly adjust length and diameter to micro-tune the properties once the 4 tubes are complete. Thickness of tube is not critical but the final version with cutouts will be 1/4" thick so both will probably be that thick. Also, I'll need to be able to make a 2nd version that has cutouts in the tube but still leaving the V notches. Very best regards, Mike

gilles · 10 Oct 2012, 18:18

With no plugin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT5r3AQZBnw ?

With plugin:
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=122603#p122603

Have good days with SU.

KE6CVH · 10 Oct 2012, 19:25

Hi Gilles and Dave, I will work with some of the examples given and hope to do better this time. The examples have threading on a solid shaft. If I make a model with a solid shaft that is threaded how will it be possible to "cut out" the center leaving maybe a 1/4" thick wall for example?
Best regards,
Mike

gilles · 10 Oct 2012, 20:09

May be you could post pics or sketch of what your looking for.

solo · 10 Oct 2012, 20:21

Hey Mike,

Welcome to SCF, Charles told me you would be joining this forum to get some help.

I agree with Gilles, if you can post images or even a stripped down model we can help you better.

pilou · 10 Oct 2012, 20:22

this one also by KitoRaup

pbacot · 10 Oct 2012, 21:29

I think I know what you want. If your solid threaded shaft has a face for an end cap, you can draw the inner circle on that face, then use the push-pull tool to make a hollow center all the way through. You will need to locate the center of the spirals. [Rather have your core circle centered on the top face of the cylinder before you make the thread offset.] Also if you draw your object centered on the axis or a guide line it will help.

Layout the concentric circles in plan(group a copy of these and keep at the base for reference).

KE6CVH · 11 Oct 2012, 12:32

Hi Solo, Nice to meet you. I tried downloading the plugin screw1_5.rb from the ruby library depot. It had a page but when I tried downloading it said unavailable. Did an internet search for the plugin and found a Google discussion where someone had the same result saying unavailable. What I did see in that discussion is that SU 7 cannot join faces under 1/16". I'm not sure about SU 8 but assume that it is a similar problem. My diameter was 2" and the V notch was .101" so that may have been part of the problem. I'll get to a sketch later as I'm trying to do my homework 1st on this problem but if that is/was part of my problem and I need to start large then scale down please confirm. Best regards, Mike

massimo · 11 Oct 2012, 12:37

@unknownuser said:

I tried downloading the plugin screw1_5.rb from the ruby library depot. It had a page but when I tried downloading it said unavailable.

This link works for me.

gilles · 11 Oct 2012, 12:42

@unknownuser said:

I need to start large then scale down please confirm

I confirm.

Links to the plugin.
http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/plugin_details.php?id=357
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=240238#p240238

massimo · 11 Oct 2012, 12:52

No need for registration or something. Pushing the download button should work.
Maybe you could drop a PM to Didier .

KE6CVH · 11 Oct 2012, 13:33

I went to the link Massimo provided and it is the same as the one I went to but just to be sure tried it with the same result of "page not available" upon downloading. I tried another link for a ruby plug in from the same site, k tools 5.0 , that was mentioned in another thread with the same result. Any suggestions for the ruby library depot? Maybe I need to join the website or something. Best regards, Mike
OK, found a couple links from another thread and got it to download but it wasn't from the Ruby library. Will work on this a bit and get back. Best regards, Mike

KE6CVH · 11 Oct 2012, 18:08

Hello Solo and everyone, Well I kept trying and trying until something happened. Not quite sure how to get the outside of the pipe section to fill in only between the V notches and this is one thousand percent not to any scale. Basically, the V notch will be around .101" wide X .101" deep and the spacing between notches will be .101". This piece of pipe with a spiral shaped notch will be in different diameters from 2" down to about 1" and maybe even a little less. Then I hope to be able to very subtly change the dimensions to get exactly what is needed in each size. Please forgive the fact that I'm catching on to this whole thing not only slower than a 5th grader or 12 year old but now wondering if a 2nd grader would be leaving me in the dust on this learning curve. Thanks!
Best Regards,
Mike

skeleton.skp

gilles · 11 Oct 2012, 18:24

Is this what you want?

sdmitch · 11 Oct 2012, 18:53

Or something like this.

pilou · 12 Oct 2012, 00:15

Artistic ?

pbacot · 12 Oct 2012, 04:12

How about the one in this picture?

This could go on all night with this gang!

KE6CVH · 14 Oct 2012, 14:54

Hello, I posted the tube with the v notch spiral but it only has an inside surface to the tube. When making an outside surface it covers what is supposed to be open on the notch portion. Is there a way to "fill in" the portions of the outside tube and not interfere with the notch?
I paid the premium membership in hopes to get some help. Internet is deathly slow here where I'm at so youtube is a slow process and not sure what keywords to use to find the solution to what I'm trying to do at this step. I'm guessing this is rediculously simple to you all but that is why I'm posting on the newbie forum.

Best regards,
Mike