NOTE: Latest version is 0.16 - this stores thread details in the URL field in the properties area so that threads can be identified later.
An issue with the software was that once threads were created, they were particularly difficult to identify - details like pitch, length and thread indexes as well as diameter are complicated and not easily recovered.
So I now record that information by attaching a hyperlink to the entity so that at least this information is attached to the entity itself and can be used later, especially when recording information about a drawing/model or when modifying it with slight variations.
Prior version is 0.15 - This addresses some issues in the thread depth calculation for inside threads.
Hi All,
It's a first version- not even that in fact, as I'm still writing it - but I figure that deperate people might want anything to produce a standard thread. So this application produces an ISO standard thread profile, for any diameter, pitch and length.
And it's easy to use. BTW, Klaus, Can you please ask the forum owners to allow ".LSP" extension files to be attached? We need them for CorelCAD but the extension is not recognized and cannot be uploaded.
So cut out the code ( it's in the next post ) and save as "threads.lsp" in your applications folder...
Instructions.
Note: Please review end of thread to get latest version as an attachment - download and use "appload" to execute.
ThanksDavid
OK, just a note that I just noticed that I got the profile for the inside threads reversed... *sigh*... I'll work on a correction for that.
David.
Please see end of thread for latest version- Thank you -
David
0.13 Beta is the latest version and seems to work - so should be used for creation of production threads... Sorry I can't attach it as a file. The board still won't accept LSP files.
One trick that has been used before (but I'm not sure I've tried it on this site); save your LSP file. Change the extension to something like JPG. Upload the file and note in your post that anyone downloading it needs to change the extension back to LSP to use it.
But to repeat; I am not sure I've ever tried that trick on this particular site.
--OB
Good news: .LSP files are now supported in the coreldraw.com forum (as well as .DWG) for being attached to forum posts.
Best regards,Klaus.
Version 0.13 Beta - This version seems to work and follow all dimensional constraints of ISO bolts. The application will create a face profile and a path for the thread. To complete it, use SWEEP on the face profile ( circle shape ) and select BASE as the bottom of the path. Select TWIST where angle = length / pitch * 360 and then select the path.
It takes a little while to calculate then, but will produce ISO standard threads.
Use appload to load it, then type BOLT to produce an external thread, and NUT to produce an internal thread. NUT threads must be subtracted from a solid to produce the correct thread - ( it's an inverted thread for this reason )
Easy enough :) Post any questions here. As far as I know, this is the first thread application conforming to ISO thread standard. File is threads v 0.13.LSP - Just APPLOAD it and it should work.
Regards
p.s. Klaus, Are you able to edit the above posts to remove the text versions of the app? It's OK to leave them there too, but they are somewhat long and don't serve a purpose now we can upload the files directly :)
An update on further development, which will likely be slow, because of limited beta testers... The old version works fine, and creates very accurate threads, however because of the way CorelCAD creates faces with SWEEP, I was finding some models had around 500,000 faces for a simple small bolt. This causes a lot of problems, because CorelCAD starts to fail when working with models of this size, and also many printers can't handle models of this size, and they require polygon reduction.
I modified the software to use LOFT to reduce polygon count, and it probably reduced the count by an order of magnitude and was relatively quick and reasonably accurate. However, it still stressed the application.
So I've written a new version that creates vertical thread profiles and uses modified LOFT to connect them, creating an optimal thread ( accuracy nearly perfect ) and with far less faces ( about three orders of magnitude less ) which is REALLY efficient. It does hit a few major limitation in the way CorelCAD processes things ( not quite like AutoCAD ) and requires the user to press "enter" twice when the LOFT menu comes up ( it's set to default ) and then it takes about a minute for a REALLY big thread to clean it up, but once done, it produces neat, fully formed bolt threaded sections and nut subtractive sections completely automatically. It also makes allowance ( user selectable ) for 3D printer tolerances.
I'm finding 1.5mm pitch coarse threads print really well from it, even on low-resolution printers. I'll leave the above workaround in place for the moment, because it provides an option for people needing to make threads ( and can have polygons removed ex-processing ) - but if anyone wants to beta test the new routines, please let me know. Once the bugs are all out, I'll put the basic script up here. I'll wait to get it right, because otherwise the number of versions in the thread will become a mess.
This new script has many uses. With high accuracy, it can be used to create printed threaded adapters (eg, Cameras, etc ) or custom threads for bolts and nuts. It's intended to allow direct printing of commonly lathed objects such as nuts and bolts and threaded fasteners with 3D metal sintering machines post-design.
Example below - M10x1.5 ( M10 Coarse ) - Nut and bolt. Created in just two operations ( Added head to bolt, subtracted thread from nut ) - Less than 10,000 facets and less than 5000 vertices... Quite printable, and not too hard on CorelCAD onscreen either. I still wish I could simplify more in 2D mode, but at least they can be put in on another layer.
RegardsDavid
For those who want to try the alpha-version anyway - Two functions in the attached script.
To use: Type appload in CorelCAD and select the LSP script. They type either BOLT or NUT depending on which kind of thread you want. When the SWEEP window comes up ( it will come up twice ) then just hit "enter" to accept the settings. After the second window goes away, the program will take a little while to perform the functions, then will complete the thread.
A quick glimpse into where this is going ( and what can be done in LISP under CorelCAD ) - I have to say that being able to write my own CorelCAD routines and commands is completely awesome... I wish I could do that in CorelDRAW! -
Three bolt sections... all 5mm lengths of M10 - The first, 8 indexes, 1mm pitch. The second, 4 indexes, 2mm pitch. The third is normal 1mm pitch with a single thread. Multi-index threads are exceptional for creating mechanisms such as focal knobs that move parts further and faster than a normal thread and also for mechanical purposes ( eg, worm drives ).
Also, I've done these in Wireframe, so the number ( and efficiency ) of triangles used can be seen - this is possibly the most efficient way to do this under CorelCAD, and because there are no snap-to points, it doesn't slow down ESnap or ETrack at all in use :)