The Draw spiral function allows you to create a spiral, defining its parameters.
These steps must be completed:
Step 1 – Create the first diameter point;
Step 2 – Create the second diameter point
At the level of this step, the diameter can be set either by clicking inside the working space, so that its value should be determined by the distance between the first and the second point, or by precise values, that must be filled in the Diameter field. As for their types, spirals can be Circular or Ellipsoid.
Step 3 – Create the cross diameter point The transverse diameter must be set for the ellipsoid-type spiral only. Its settings is identical to the one of the previous diameters – either by a click, or by entering a value.
Step 4 – Create spiral At the level of this step, the following spiral features must be set:
The spiral’s step, defined through the width of the step in the By step width field or through the number of steps defined in the By number of steps field. The filling out of one of the two parameters leads to the automatic computing of the other.
Whether the spiral is closed or open. By creating a closed spiral, as soon as the function reaches its end, the defined spiral is attached to an identical-diameter closed contour, which results in a main piece. By creating an open spiral, as soon as the function reaches its end, the defined spiral is an open contour, which results in an unused piece.
The length for severing the spiral The severing length can be defined for the short edge of the spiral’s section by entering the value in the Section length on short edge field, or for the long edge of the spiral’s section by entering the value in the Section length on long edge field. The section’s length must be set for one of the edges only, the two fields being mutually exclusive: entering a length value in one of the fields leads to canceling the value from the other field.
At the level of this step are also displayed the features of the spiral determined by the chosen diameter: Spiral length on long edge, Spiral length on short edge and Real height.
Step 5 – Reshape spiral At the level of this step, you can reshape the spiral by editing the values entered during the previous steps. To complete the creation of the spiral, click on Validate, or press Enter.