DESIGN

HOW TO DRAW A SPRING

Here we will be using the SWEEP command, just as the EXTRUDE command we have made use of when we built out first figure in AutoCAD, it helps obtain cylinders from circles and can do more.

The SWEEP command works with few differences similarly to the EXTRUDE command. It helps obtain 3D object from 2D object, just by indicating the path through which the 2D object is going to SWEEP to create the 3D object.

An easy example to demonstrate the possibilities of the SWEEP command is to build a 3D spring in AutoCAD using the SWEEP command and the HELIX command.

Going from the objects in Image 1 to Image 2.

Let’s use this opportunity to learn how to create an Helix in AutoCAD.

Create an helix in AutoCAD

1. Type HELIX and press ENTER
2. Specify the center point of the base
3. Specify the value of the base radius
4. Specify the value of the top radius
5. Specify the height of the helix.

It is to be mentioned that there are many options you can make use of while using the HELIX command. Using this command  you can build an helix based on the number of turns of the helix and/or the height-difference between two subsequent turns.

Here are few things you can build using the HELIX command

(a) Spiral
(b) Base radius smaller than top radius (spring)
(c) Base radius bigger than top radius (spring)
(d) uniform spring

 SWEEP IN AUTOCAD

Let’s come back to the main topic of this post, which is the use of the SWEEP command in AutoCAD.

We have had a fun exercise using the 3DROTATE lately, we are right going to use the product of it to build the following 3D object in AutoCAD.

Using images on the left and the SWEEP command, we can build the image on the right.

FINAL OBJECT

How do you actually use the SWEEP command in AutoCAD.

1. Type SWEEP and press ENTER
2. Select object to sweep and press ENTER
3. Select SWEEP path

As simple as that.

To build the image above

STEP 1

We have 12 segments that will serve as SWEEP path (Use this post to learn how to get this object built)

STEP 2

What we need now, is to draw a circle, duplicate it so to have 12 of them in total.

STEP 3

Sweep 12 times, using each time a circle as the object to sweep and asegment as a sweep path.

3D SPRING

Coming back to our HELICES and let’s SWEEP them with objects having different shapes.

(a) Object to SWEEP: circle
(b) Object to SWEEP: Ellipse
(c) Object to SWEEP: Rectangle
(d) Object to SWEEP: Triangle

The resulting image

Additional images