This is a new one for me: I created a helix in a part file (so that I could slow my system way down ) and when I re-open the assembly file the helix is flipped. Ctrl-Q'd it until the Q key looks like an "O", opened and rebuilt the part a number of times, etc. Suggestions?
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By the way, it's not that this solution isn't creative. Having a helix smaller than the part OD would mean that I would be creating the entire model you posted. It's about 3 features and a 3D sketch. The helix tool is one sketch and the helix. The file you posted is 109KB and the difference in file size if I delete the helix is about 8KB. Another issue for me that you could not anticipate would be that for each surface in the model I will need to assign optical properties (even if they are transparent) otherwise the simulation will not be correct and they also will effect the total calculation time for a simulation.
As I said, Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate the example and the help.
Harold,
Not knowing anything about the Optical software you use (Please let me know, cause I occassionally have an need for it). If you delete the surfaces, would you still have to assign properties?
The optical software we use is OptisWorks Add-In for SolidWorks which is listed as a Gold Partner. The modules we have are Optical Design (OD) and Light Modeling (LM2). Optis has been the only player with a software package that does not require the SW model to be exported in order to run a simulation and the capabilities have been expanding. I am very happy with the software and the support is excellent.
Assigning properties to the surfaces isn't a real big deal if I got in the habit it's just one more thing to slow down the processing speed when the helix sketch feature should take care of it. The key would be setting the default values for the templates. I don't need to have a property assigned if I delete the surface but then I don't have an editable helix anymore either. Picky, picky, picky.
I use surfaces in my solid models once in a while when I want a conic section interface (in particular a hyperbolic which SW doesn't "do") by using the extrude to surface option. I learned to assign properties to the surface even when hidden.
Just FYI.. I was curious about the file sizes... and I tried a few different ways to acheive the same thing... Obviously the helix is better: The same curve drawn as a helix is ~80Kb and generating it by a surface, then either converting entities to a 3D sketch or generating a composite curve from the edge, then deleting the structure results in a file size of ~100Kb...
Food for thought I suppose
You are right in that it would not be my preference. It would take what should be a simple SW generated feature and make it an exercise in geometry for a work-around. It should just work right and for some reason it doesn't.
I'm not opposed to getting creative when a feature doesn't exist or if it seems like fun but I think this might be a bug. Thanks for the suggestion though.
"You did mention in your post that you were trying to slow your systme down... I just figured I'd help in those efforts"
Touché!I did say that didn't I....
Apparently this is a non-problem kind of problem. I spent some time downloading SP2 for Optis and SP4 for SW and then re-opened the file. Goofy-ness is still there. Just for fun I selected the helix in the tree and inserted a 3D sketch using the convert entities. Looks fine. Goofy but fine.
jpeg is the screen shot and pdf is a print screen pasted to a word doc (which is what it looks like on my tube).
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Harold,
Did you use a Temporary Axis in the helix creation, or in an assy mate?
I had a situation once, where the use of the temp axis flipped the geometry. I will search for the details later.
Ok, my memory is playing tricks on me. It wasn't me who had the problem with the temp axis.
https://forum.solidworks.com/message/53575#53575
So that probably has nothing to do with your problem.