Modeling screw threads (1 of 2)

Learn how to model screw threads using helical curves and booleans in Rhino. The threads shown are the type you would see on the end of a light bulb. Changes to the cross section profile and path will provide you with ways of making alternate styles of threads as well. Part 1 of 2
Rhino3D.com

[@Brilliance728]

underrated video - super clear, easy to follow. Thanks.... 10 years later lolol.

[@wagnerlip]

I will try and find the solution. Anyway, I replaced the half-circle shape with a circle, so even rotating it created a half round nice thread. I really don't know what is happening, in the past I was able to sweep triangle shape without the rotation, for an Acme like thread. Congratulations for the pristine clear and very precise voice/audio/visual. Wagner.

[@wagnerlip]

Thank you again, I was able to fix all the issues. Your help was very important. One video that I would need to see is how to stick a JPG image over a cilinder, or an irregular cilinder, like a soda can. I was never able to do it. Thanks again.

[@RhinoGuide]

You're welcome! The Taper command may do what you need here. I would suggest using it before the sweep of the thread cross section. Make sure to check out the command line for options when running Taper to control the result.

[@RhinoGuide]

You're welcome. Look up UV mapping in Rhino 5 for info on texture mapping images to surfaces. This area is effected by the active rendering plugin too and material definitions may or may not have their own UV controls.

[@RhinoGuide]

Hi Wagner, I'm not sure what the difference is in your file exactly but it might be that you needed to change the alignment of the profile when orienting it to the helix. This is controlled in the command line. Or maybe the option for Roadlike Top needs to be used for the Sweep.

[@zews1]

I was looking for how to make an accurate machin screw thread in Rhino. This is a fantasy screw thread. Screw threads like this don't exist.

[@RhinoGuide]

It might be due to the viewport used for drawing the cross section profile. Check if that makes a difference for when you'd need to use roadlike top for the sweep or perpendicular when orienting the profile to the rail. Thanks for the compliment, this was an early video for me.

[@RhinoGuide]

Hi Wagner, Check that the extension type is set to natural in the command line.

[@joelrichardson8771]

"then it will create a surface at theeeeeeeeeeeeee" my man glitched for a second.

[@adamjovicic9006]

how do you make it to a certain pitch/TPI

[@wagnerlip]

Hello, thank you very much for showing this lesson in a very clear and easy way, I own you. But being a novice in Rhino, I have certain basic difficulties. No matter what I do, I can curve the extension to the left as you do on 1:14. My extension always goes straight as a line, as a tangent from the helix/cylinder. How do you curve the extension? Thank you so much for any help. Wagner.

[@Kk-jj3xi]

Hello, when I try to extend crv, I can't really extend it nicely as you did, my extension draws larger and bigger, not aligned with the spiral form..

[@Kk-jj3xi]

not dynamic extension, I just followed what you exactly did though, I don't know why...

[@RhinoGuide]

@@Kk-jj3xi Post the curve in a 3dm file to the Rhino user forum (discourse.mcneel.com/) including the result you get that doesn't seem right. My guess is that there are multiple control points close to each other at the end you extended causing the tangent direction to be unexpected.

[@RhinoGuide]

Hi, Yes, I think you could use the same technique shown for the shaft portion of a worm gear. The other toothed gear could be modeled as a simple extrusion.

[@hafizahkhalid2790]

Hi, can i use this method to create a riser with helical strakes? I need to use constant height with different pitch. Thank you.

[@RhinoGuide]

Hi Hafizah, I'm not sure but would suggest posting some images of your goal and any start to model you have on the user forum discourse.mcneel.com/

[@Philip8907]

Hi, First of all, nice tutorial! secondly, when I try to orient my curve perpendicular on the helix rail (like in 2:12) , the curve is not perpendicular to the cilinder shape.... resulting in an odd and not straight screw wire. Any idea how to fix this?

[@RhinoGuide]

If your profile isn't aligned like you want, you can rotate it in the command line options while orienting.

[@wagnerlip]

... continuation... from the top right of the helix to the left end on top, than yours, and the end of the helix top and bottom does not bend smoth as yours, it bends abrupt from the last control point that is close to the end of the helix. It bends like a ski ramp instead of continue the natural angle of the helix. I even deleted some control points close to the ends of the helix, it helped but it seems not to be the right way to do it. I will continue to find the way. it is a nice lesson.

[@wagnerlip]

Thank you, the "natural" solve the issue. Another problem, at 2:29 my "half circle" straight line does not attach to the helix as yours, vertical, my straight line of the half circle attach as 30 degrees to the left, and then the thread down the helix turns itself around the helix line, with the round part turning to the inner part of the bottom half of the helix. May be it happens because in my helix, at 2:03, there are more control dots... continue

[@bagofbones11]

RhinoGuide can i use this method to create worm gears? Thanks for the tutorial

[@AbnerSnow]

Hi There, As I'm trying to follow this video a few things weren't looking right in scale, ie my thread shape was too small and I had many more helix rings then yours here. I restarted using small objects in inches document and still my cylinder looked huge compared to this one. Can you please share your document specifications for this video? I can't seem to find that information anywhere. I'd like to also know the grid settings for this page layout for the same reason. Thank you!

[@brianjames6445]

The file was made in the small objects inches template where there are major grid lines every inch. Email your file to [e-mail] or post to the user forum if needed. discourse.mcneel.com/ This video is pretty old and used v4 but it should still work the same.

[@yahairam9220]

why not just use "pipe" command to create the threads? then boolean difference the second part?

[@SammYLightfooD]

wow. that's more complicated than I assumed. they really should include a plugin to help with this. very well explained though.

[@itailu]

Hi :) Why not run a pipe on the helix?

[@dgkoz]

Nice video! soo usefull! thanks!

[@pavilionman64]

awesome tutorial!!

[@httokhi9562]

Hi, Thanks so much for your tutorial. I desperately need some help. I am trying to model a tapered tip helix (3 turns). Could you please help and I can give you the dimensions. Thanks in advance.

[@Zaizai_jalin]

hi, I have problem to booleanunion the screw after fillet, do you know how I can solve this ?

[@RhinoGuide]

Hi Jalin, post the 3dm to the forum here if you can discourse.mcneel.com/ and myself or someone else can take a look. At a guess, the model might have a small gap in it that would have to be closed before the Boolean. Use ShowEdges>Naked Edges to check.

[@karinalarsen7153]

Hi. I have the same problem as Luis. Drag seam point. Nothing works :(

[@RhinoGuide]

Hi, I'm not sure what the problem is with your model. Please post it to the Rhino user forum to show where you're at. Also indicate the steps you take right before not being able to adjust the seam. Here's the link to the forum... discourse.mcneel.com/

[@karinalarsen7153]

RhinoGuide Thanks for your answer. I started all over in a new document, and this time it worked :)

[@rimachaudhry5995]

Hi, i keep getting stuck at 1:45 in as i select the top and bottom of the helix but when i go to scale in 1d i cant select all of the helix/make it yellow. any advice?

[@RhinoGuide]

+Rima Chaudhry I'm not sure, can you send the model in to Rhino tech suuport? [e-mail]

[@sebreid6919]

how do you get the sweep one rail option open?

[@RhinoGuide]

+Seb Reid The Sweep1 options are in a floating dialog when you run the command. Are you maybe using the Mac version of Rhino? The options will then be in the left sidebar. Email [e-mail] if you need more help please.

[@olli77hajnal]

If I press enter at the sweep to 1 rail options nothing happens - what might be the problem?

[@RhinoGuide]

I'm not sure what the problem might be, the rail options for sweeps change the orientation of the cross section and should update while the dialog is open. You may need to click preview to see the change. Post to the Rhino user forum if you need more help. discourse.mcneel.com/

[@bradian1]

I cant!! do fillet, i follow all the steps but whe i make the fillet it made separate, i changed the dimesion of the fillet but the results are the same

[@brianjames6445]

+bradian1 At a guess, I bet the surface edge of the thread sweep is very close to the intersection with the cylinder. This is a common reason fillets will fail... when they don't have enough room to trim against the adjacent surfaces because of some skinny bit you hadn't noticed. If this seems possible, try SrfSeam to relocate the seam of the thread away from the intersection before the Boolean. Post a model to the user forum if you need more help... discourse.mcneel.com/

[@bradian1]

+Brian James Thank you so much i did it!!

[@cmsecomcomercializadorasec9330]

muchas gracias si me funciono

[@jem4274]

Everything works until it comes time to fillet then the fillet fails.

[@syda10]

I can't!! I select only one middle point, while you did two middle points at 2:17 :-(

[@RhinoGuide]

You can select multiple points by holding the Shift key during selection.

[@xxxDesign4Lifexxx]

AND NOW pls for cinema4D

[@Nick-zd5ci]

Up your mic volume please. No one should have to put my speakers at 100% to hear your guides.

[@m4rvinmartian]

Ugliest "threads" I've ever seen. Only value in this video is it gives you a starting point to do it correctly. FWIW, don't call it screw threads... if you say in the description, "like a lightbulb".

[@RhinoGuide]

You're welcome. Look up UV mapping in Rhino 5 for info on texture mapping images to surfaces. This area is effected by the active rendering plugin too and material definitions may or may not have their own UV controls.

[@RhinoGuide]

You're welcome. Look up UV mapping in Rhino 5 for info on texture mapping images to surfaces. This area is effected by the active rendering plugin too and material definitions may or may not have their own UV controls.