Sketchup Helix Threads first try garden hose fitting

piratebrian

I just finished with (a first draft) of true helix thread garden hose fitting. Does anyone have a better method than what I employed to make the threads?
The 3d warehouse model is clean for export to a 3d printer, and contains crude step by step text instructions on methods and plugins used:
picture of threads

3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is a website of searchable, pre-made 3D models that works seamlessly with SketchUp.

(3dwarehouse.sketchup.com)

It is of the US garden hose with 11.5 threads per inch at 1.044 OD, 0.967 ID inches. I have yet to test it out with abs on my 3d printer. It is not for actual use.
garden hose thread file
Thanks also for your wisdom
PB

cotty

See here: http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/112614/screw-threads-in-sketchup (DaveR)

piratebrian

I just found a better (?) method of drawing threads by a guy called Andy Sutardy.

His steps actually used no plugins which was amazing.
They were:
make a circle of 24 segments
explode circle
lift one segments at random angle.
delete rest
copy rotate 23 times, making 24 total one segment of a helix layer,
copy lift 23 times so the lower one then connects to its neighbor above.
he then had a segmented helix coil 24 coils all 24 segments.
exploded, selected one helix, deleted rest.
scaled it down to be one complete helical revolution, did the measurement to get the lengh per unit thread 1/TPI height.
drew a cylinder of 24 segements, placed the stacked revolving helix on the cylinder of equal diameter.
Made one helix be the valley one be the peak,
scalled peak helix to stretch the thread from the surface of the cylinder.

Come to think of it. He could then math scaled the helix to get it to scale to a particular dimension after drawing it also. By hiding the hidden surface contours, and selecting one helix or the other, the individual scaling of the outer and inner helix could take place.

My method lacks as much elegance, but requires less steps. His method is far less cleanup. unhappy with both.

@cotty said:

See here: http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/112614/screw-threads-in-sketchup (DaveR)

pbacot

Those methods look pretty ingenious. I like Screw.rb. Not sure if works for your needs.

pilou

take a glance to Kito Raupp for some creative methods!