Hello everyone,
I want to make a model of a forming tap and don't know how to make the thread. It should follow a "helix" only it's not really a helix because it's not circular but pentagonal, like in the picture below. Hope i'm clear. Would appreciate any help in how to do this.
Thanks.
I do not think this part actually has a "pentagonal helix". I'll bet this part is manufactured with just a normal helical profile and then the flats and grooves are cut into it. Manufacturing this with a pentagonal helix would require rather sophisticated equipment and make this part frightfully expensive.
Try modeling this with a helical sweep as you would normally for a thread. Then you could extrude cuts to put the pentagonal the flats and grooves on it.
Hello Evgeny,.. I'll attach a example of a pent/sweep but I'm sure it's not like the above pic... and honestly do not know how they are creating that tap.. but would guess there are multiple operations involved.
Nice job Paul!
Paul, thanks very much, that's what i was looking for! I will try to do this with my tap and needed dimensions.
Dennis, from what the tap looks like (not the picture, i have some of these actually) the grooves in fact can be added after the thread is made, but I don't think you're right about the flats. But what you're saying about the complexity of the manufacturing makes sense so i guess i should ask the guys that are about to manufacture the tap (they are the ones for whom i make the model and drawings) and see what they say.
Hello Evgeny,.. I'll attach a example of a pent/sweep but I'm sure it's not like the above pic... and honestly do not know how they are creating that tap.. but would guess there are multiple operations involved.