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Surfacing a spiral 
What makes this interesting is the equation used to generate the spirals'
driving datum curve. Similar methodology can be used to drive an extruded
surface with a curve, which can represent flex cables or other low
thickness-to-area features. The spiral curve could also define solid geometry
as a "thin" protrusion.
A simple mechanism with angle controlled by Pro/Program
Regenerate the assembly, enter the desired "input
angle", and the mechanism updates input wheel, drive rods and output wheel
to the desired angle. Illustrates the use of a skeleton to drive an assembly.
A reflector.
The solid was
produced from a surface quilt, then shelled. The datum curves which drive this
part are ellipses, but could be modeled as any conic section such as parabolas.
They could also be defined "by equation", based on the optical design
requirements
This structural sub-set of an optical assembly
was modeled by placing datum curves around the optical
elements, generating datum points at the corners of those datum curves, and
sweeping extrusions along paths which joined the datum points. The swept
extrusions form the structure. By using this modeling methodology, the optical
element locations drive the structure; a modification to an optical element
location (prescription) will result in the structural elements
"following" the re-located optics. Virtually nothing in this assembly
is orthogonal. ANSYS modal analysis verified this space flight structures'
resonances were well above the launch vehicles signature spectrum. Many
features and components have been left out of this illustration
This programmable clock assembly
will accept time input in either "regular" 12 or 24
hour format. Regenerate the assembly, and choose hour, minute or both for input
variables. The command sequence Program | Show Program will bring up the code
listing.
This nozzle can be modeled in several ways; as a revolved protrusion which
has symmetry about its' axis
or as surfaces which have 2 planes of symmetry.
In both cases, after the basic nozzle is modeled a coolant tube
is added using a spiral path. That path is generated as the intersection of 2
surfaces; one offset from the outer surface of the nozzle, and the second as a
spiral multi-trajectory sweep. A graph drives the lead angle of the spiral. For
a constant lead angle, the sketcher "evalgraph" relation in the
spiral surface could be replaced with sdx = 360 * trajpar * n , where n is the
number of turns in the spiral. This is done by "redefining" the
spiral surface, editing the "sketch" and editing
"relations" in the sketch.
Note: Mid-range modelers such as solidworks cannot accurately create the parts and assemblies represented on this page.