Thought I'd try to post something here so Sean doesn't close the directory for lack of use....

I have been recently looking at possible ways to model "barrel cam" type shapes in Pro/E (WF2) and came up with a fairly simple solution that I think yields an accurate groove as might be cut using an end mill. I left the "?" on because I haven't really wrung it out for accuracy.

The attached zip contains pics and a STEP if anyone wants to take a gander, analyze, debunk, comment, etc. Actually I'd be interested in comments if anyone can point out inconsistancies, inaccuracies, etc.

The (very) basic steps to model the part are:

1. (a)Create a cylindrical solid and a cylindrical surface the diameter of which represents the groove depth. (b)Create a datum plane tangent to the surface feature.

2. On the tangent plane create a datum sketch representing the groove geometry.

3. Wrap the planar datum curve on the cylindrical surface.

4,5. Create a swept surface using the wrapped curve as trajectory (path) and a line section. Accept the default normal to trajectory and normal to surface section orientation definitions.

6. Create a thicken / cut feature using the swept surface to cut the groove.

The learning process continues...

It seems that Pro/E has a fairly handy mechanism for checking the groove geometry. A pin surface can be extruded and an intersection curve created using it and the solid geometry. The surface extrusion and intersection feature can then be patterned around the curve. The attached pic shows intersection curves for a 0.7505 diameter pin in a .7500 groove.

(Sean, if this stuff is just clutter feel free to delete it.)

Absolutely not. Information should never be wasted. Jeff if you bring 1/10 of the info to the ProE community that do did to the Inventor community this place will be jumping in no time.

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Sean Dotson, PE
RND Automation & Engineering
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Well, don't know if I've ever been good for bidness... but do appreciate you hosting the files. There's a related discussion going on over'n comp.cad.solidworks and some of this may be relevant.

Have a good one...

hi...i am facing some problem while modeling barrel cam in pro e wildfire 3........though i have used the method shown in zip file...the problem is
1. i have data of angle in theeta or radian and linear displacement of follower associated with each angular displacement of cam barrel. when i make a spline or curve using method given.........the curve or spline when wrapped around cylinder is shrinked..i.e., the start and end point of curve are not at desired positions.