For a G1 fit between each spiral segment, you have to add 2 points to the ends of each spiral. So it goes like this:

1. Make array of points as Schbeurd explains (someday you will have to tell me the correct way of pronouncing this nickname)... for this example, let's say there are 8 points in the array :

2. Select points 2 & 3, then copy from position of point 1 to poistion of point 8.

3. Select points 6 & 7, then copy from position of point 8 to poistion of point 1.

4. Now draw your curve through all the points.

5. Select curve, and trim excess curve length using original points # 1 and 8.

If you make multiple copies of this curve, and align them end to end to end, they will have G1 continuity... I analyzed in Rhino, and it doesn't matter if you make 2, 3, or 4 extra points the result will still be G1. But if only using one extra point at each end will result in G0 continuity.

shorty...

My method a little arranged :D
Same begin as Schbeurd :)
Array circular function: One Point, A Center, 1 as step vertical, 90 ° to fill, 3 repetitions,
And now Ladys and Gentleman the trick : take the Arc by 3 points :)
Draw it by the 3 previous point
Now the step became 2 (2*1) (because the 3 points Start , Middle, End)
Select the Arc
Just apply the formula *<:O)
Nb of repetition N ---> (N-1) * 90° angle to fill
Example : 20 Repetitions --> 19 * 90° = 1710° to fill, always step 2 (2*1)

 

Example following of that: seems perfect :)
@Shchbeurd : I am not sure that your method should be good without hand

It's a nice close approximation.

But note that each 3 point arc that you draw is a planar curve, so the resulting shape has each 90 degree chunk in a separate plane - this is slightly different than a true helix which has a more gradual progression through 3D space instead of in planar pieces.

It looks very nice though, and the end tangents are very close between pieces - looks like only about 0.1 degrees deviation.

- Michael

Damned I was too optimistic :D
So an automatic system is always to find :)

I must make 80 Clickty-clac Zoom of the Mouse Wheel before to see a divergence between 2 arc segments !
Is it compatible with your estimation of 0.1 degre deviation?

Hi. I tried the 3-point arc method before i made my last post. It doesn't work as a true spiral. Look closely at the arcs. When you rotate around the view, it looks "wobbly". The curves are all G1, but they don't have correct incline in the Z-axis. Follow this test, and see the result:

1) make the point spiral array

2) draw a 3-point arc. everything seems to be OK.

3) now draw a 3-point circle through the same points as the arc

You will see the path of 3-point arc will follow the exact path of the 3-point circle. And the path does not follow the spiral point array... now draw the curve through points, using all points in the spiral array. Zoom in and compare the 3-point arc to the drawn curve, you will see the "wobble"...

jonah

> I must make 80 Clickty-clac Zoom of the Mouse Wheel before to see a
> divergence between 2 arc segments !
> Is it compatible with your estimation of 0.1 degre deviation?

Well, when you're zooming in on the endpoint you're looking at positional deviation - that is going to be very tight, by the time you zoom in 80 steps you're seeing a very small deviation that is much, much smaller than the tolerance, so that part is very accurate.

I was talking about tangent deviation, though - this is the differences between the end tangent directions at each segment. This is a little easier to see - you can draw a tangent line off of each segment (hide the neighboring one to make sure your snap is on one particular segment), and then you can zoom in to see if there is a gap between these tangent lines. The gap is small (0.1 degrees in this case), but you should see it with only a little bit of zooming, especially if you draw the lines a bit longer.

- Michael

Well, well...
Can you put an "real helix" beside my "false helix"
of course with same dimension :)

> Can you put an "real helix" beside my "false helix"

I've attached here a helix created from Rhino - I think it is approximated to a true helix within 0.01 units. (A NURBS curve cannot actually have a 100% exact shape of a helix unlike a circle, it has to be approximated to some tolerance).

Your curve is very, very close - your curve has a maximum deviation of 0.04 units from this one.

- Michael

Thx
So some visible with the zoom :)
I must found an another automatic trick for reduce the deviation :)

Hi,

Add: The helix from an arc or one turn. (it applies to both G0 and G1 connection)

The trouble is that if you want to use such segmented curve for sweeping, you must select more than one profile to sweeping along the helix, otherwise you create a segments which can't be joined together! Furthermore, it is necessary to choose a flat mode for sweeping a profiles "smoothly".

Petr

@Tyglik
Curious that you obtain a perfect helix with an arc!
(see my previous posts and my little disappoinment with the "arc":D
I will study your method :)
But how do you draw the first "spiral" ?
With this method?
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=277.3

With your method (very fine for automatic big spiral) (277.3) I obtain that !
Seems not so bad, but I have not the exact Rhino spiral :)
Maybe I have not found the good parameters?
I have same height, radius, start, end ...
not exactly the same numbers of spires!!! That must be the default of my try, I return to see that :)

@Tyglik
Ok That's works very fine !
We must just play with the parameters :)
Nb of rep 321
Angle to fill 1800
Step vertical 0.125

And you obtain the Rhino Helix given my Michael here http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=277.20

Seems the same with 0.000000 deviation between the 2 Helix :)

So your method is not a "pseudo" Helix but a "real" Helix :)
Bravo for the trick! ( Ctrl + C, Erase All, Ctrl + V) that rocks!
Now we can make any Spiral or helix easily!

Hi Pilou,

>>Curious that you obtain a perfect helix with an arc!
>>(see my previous posts and my little disappoinment with the "arc":D
>>I will study your method :)

No, no Pilou. I only wanted to point a potential problem out when you use a segmented helix for sweeping.
Segmented curve, I mean it is possible to separate the helix to the individual turns.
There isn't any other stand-alone helix in the picture except the helix round the origin!


>>But how do you draw the first "spiral" ?

Do you mean the helix round the origin?
It was created using bernard-jonah's method.
- create one turn of helix (8 + 4 points - Throughpoints - Trim ends)
- copy it three times
- join all turns (select, Edit/Join)

But, it doesn't matter. The segmented arc-helix result in the same trouble.

Petr

>>Do you mean the helix round the origin?
>>It was created using bernard-jonah's method.

(ahem)... I believe that is now properly being referred to in scientific terms as the Schbeurd-Shorty spiral... :)

>>Now we can make any Spiral or helix easily!

However, it still hold true that you should trim the ends of helix or spiral properly.


>>( Ctrl + C, Erase All, Ctrl + V) that rocks!

You can use "Ctrl+Drag" too, how Michael noticed somewhere else.


Petr

hehe.... petr

@Tyglik
You consider your previous method of the line + "array circular" + copy erase etc...as a false helix?

Since you guys are all so crazy about helixes, I guess I better try to put in a proper helix/spiral tool...

Although it is kind of fun to see all the different workaround methods! :)

- Michael

Ok. Next we start a thread about workarounds for parametric fillets. hehe... :)

>> Make array of points as Schbeurd explains (someday you will have to tell me the correct way of pronouncing this nickname)...

>> (ahem)... I believe that is now properly being referred to in scientific terms as the Schbeurd-Shorty spiral... :)

Well, as we will meet the day when we will be presented our Nobel prize for this great advance in computer technology, I will invite you to a pub where we will drink a few belgian beers. I can guarantee that after 4 or 5 of the Special beers (the strong ones) you will be able to pronounce "Schbeurd" like a real pro. ;-)))

Parametric fillets... Hmmm, interesting ! ;-)))