Drawing a coil with a square shaped cross section

[n2d7]

Hi, Is there a way to draw a coil with a square cross section and given number of rotations? Appreciate any help on this.

Thanks

[jmwright]

There is a swept helix example here. I think you'll need to work out the values to give the number of turns yourself.

It's modified below to have a rectangular cross-section:

import cadquery as cq

r = 0.5  # Radius of the helix
p = 0.4  # Pitch of the helix - vertical distance between loops
h = 2.4  # Height of the helix - total height

# Helix
wire = cq.Wire.makeHelix(pitch=p, height=h, radius=r)
helix = cq.Workplane(obj=wire)

# Final result: A 2D shape swept along a helix.
result = (
    cq.Workplane("XZ")  # helix is moving up the Z axis
    .center(r, 0)  # offset rect
    .rect(0.15, 0.15)
    .sweep(helix, isFrenet=True)  # Frenet keeps orientation as expected
)

show_object(result)

[n2d7]

Thank you. This works perfectly. Additional question, is there a way to vary the radius dynamically? So that I can make a cone shaped spiral.

[n2d7]

Found it. wire = cq.Wire.makeHelix(pitch=p, height=h, radius=r, angle=30)

[jmwright]

@n2d7 It sounds like this is resolved for you, but feel free to reopen if it's not.