Create a parametric spring or coiled solid from a helical, tapered, variable-pitch, or flat-spiral path.
Purpose
Create a parametric spring or coiled solid from a helical, tapered, variable-pitch, or flat-spiral path.
Where to find it
Open Model, open Create, and choose Coil.
Selection
No selection is required for New Body. Choose an axis reference and, for Join, Cut, or Intersect, a target body.
Steps
Set the centerline Diameter and the active definition pair in the command bar: Turns and Pitch, Turns and Height, or Height and Pitch.
Open Details to set path type, taper, direction, variable pitch, section shape, end treatment, and result operation.
Review the responsive faceted preview and tap Apply to build the exact OpenCascade result.
Options
Diameter / End Diameter
Set the start and end centerline diameters. The start diameter can instead follow a selected circular edge or cylindrical/conical face.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Definition
Choose which two values drive the helix equation; MakerSolid derives the third value.
Turns & PitchTurns & HeightHeight & Pitch
Taper By
Controls the end radius directly, by cone angle, or by radial growth per turn.
End DiameterCone AngleGrowth / Turn
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Turns
Sets the number of revolutions; fractional turns are supported.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Pitch
Sets axial spacing per turn for a helix or radial spacing per turn for a flat spiral.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Variable Pitch
Interpolates pitch smoothly through ordered stations at turn 0, intermediate turns, and the total turn count.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Type
Helix advances along the axis; Flat Spiral stays in the plane normal to the axis.
HelixFlat Spiral
Axis / Reverse Axis
Chooses the associative center axis and optionally reverses its direction.
Clockwise / Start Angle
Controls winding direction and angular placement at the start.
ƒ Accepts variables and expressions
Start / End Conditions
Start from an angle or picked point. End from calculated dimensions or a picked point, with nearest/down/up revolution rounding.
Section
Uses a circular, rectangular, inward-pointing triangular, or outward-pointing triangular cross-section with dimensions and rotation.
CircleRectangleTriangle InTriangle Out
Section Position
Places the section inside, centered on, or outside the nominal helix diameter.
InsideCenteredOutside
Ends
Plain, Closed, and Closed & Ground treatments are available for circular helical coils.
PlainClosedClosed & Ground
Operation / Target
Creates a New Body or performs Join, Cut, or Intersect with the selected target.
New BodyJoinCutIntersect
Result
Apply adds a parametric Coil feature and an exact OpenCascade solid result.
Editing
Open Coil in History to change its primary dimensions; detailed path, section, end, reference, and result values remain persistent and rebuild associatively.
Troubleshooting
The coil is rejected because turns intersect.
Increase Pitch or reduce the section height so adjacent turns no longer overlap.
Variable pitch is rejected.
Add one station at turn 0 and one at the total turn count, keep station turns unique, and use positive pitch values.
MakerSolid