How Do You Create a Coil in SolidWorks?

by

Creating a coil in SolidWorks is a useful technique that allows you to model helical features such as springs, wires, and cables. In this tutorial, we will explore the step-by-step process of creating a coil in SolidWorks.

Step 1: Open a New Part

Before we begin, open SolidWorks and create a new part document. This will serve as the workspace for our coil modeling.

Step 2: Sketching the Helix

To create a coil, we need to sketch the helix first. Select the “Sketch” tab from the Command Manager and choose “Helix/Spiral.”

  • Note: The “Helix/Spiral” command may be found under “Curves” or “Reference Geometry,” depending on your SolidWorks version.

A dialog box will appear with various parameters. Specify the desired values for pitch, revolutions, height, and diameter. You can also choose to create an open or closed helix.

Tips:

  • Experiment with different values: Adjusting the pitch value will change the distance between each revolution of the helix. Similarly, modifying other parameters will alter its overall shape.
  • Create multiple helices: You can create multiple independent helices by selecting “Multiple Turns” in the dialog box. This is particularly useful when modeling complex coils.

Step 3: Creating a Swept Cut

Now that we have our helix sketched, it’s time to create a swept cut feature to give it thickness and turn it into a solid coil.

  1. Select the “Features” tab from the Command Manager and click on “Swept Cut.”
  2. Choose the helix sketch as the “Path” and a sketch profile as the “Profile.” The profile can be any closed 2D shape that you want to sweep along the helix.
  3. Ensure that “Merge result” is checked, and set the desired thickness for your coil.
  4. Click “OK” to generate the swept cut feature.

Tips:

  • Experiment with different profiles: Try using various sketch profiles like circles, squares, or custom shapes to create different types of coils.
  • Add more details: After creating the swept cut, you can further refine your coil by adding fillets or chamfers to its edges. This will give it a more realistic appearance.

Step 4: Customizing Coil Parameters

If you want to customize the appearance or behavior of your coil further, SolidWorks offers additional options.

Drawing View:

  • Bold text: You can create a drawing view of your coil by selecting “Drawing View” from the Command Manager. This will allow you to generate 2D drawings with specific views and dimensions of your coil model.

Motion Study:

  • Bold text: SolidWorks also allows you to analyze and simulate the motion of your coil using Motion Study. With this feature, you can define constraints, forces, and other parameters to study how your coil behaves under different conditions.

In conclusion, creating a coil in SolidWorks is a straightforward process that involves sketching a helix and then applying a swept cut. By adjusting various parameters and customizing its appearance through additional features, you can create coils of different shapes and sizes for your design projects.