TC 3D Nut and Bolt Detail

TC 3D Nut and Bolt Detail first created 26/09/05 - last modified xx/xx/xx Page Author: Ty Harness

Please note TCPRO10.5 (not sure which version it was introduced) comes with a 3D Nut & Bolt Regen object which is much better than my code below. My macro may help you if you're more interested in pitch and flank angles etc.

This macro contains 3D boolean add and subtract functions and you need to make the following type library availible for it to use the 3D boolean functions: Goto Tools and References and then select GTXext8.0 Type Library. You may have a different version 7 or 9. With a bit of luck it may still work.
If you're unsure of how to use the VBA and get the source code below to execute then please have a look at VBA in 60 seconds

Figure 1 - Sample threads produced by the code below

'special note goto tools references and make sure GXExt8.0 Type Library is available
'It many be v7 v8 or v9 depending an what version you are running


Private Const PI = 3.1415927
Private Const degtorad = 0.0174532


Sub Thread()
'default 1/2 inch UNC 13 threads per inch

Dim strP As String
strP = InputBox("Pitch", "Screw Thread", 0.076923, 100, 100)
If strP = "" Then Exit Sub

Dim strD As String
strD = InputBox("Blank Diameter", "Screw Thread", 0.5, 100, 100)
If strD = "" Then Exit Sub

Dim strFA As String
strFA = InputBox("Flank Angle DEG", "Screw Thread", 30, 100, 100)
If strFA = "" Then Exit Sub

draw_screw True, 1#, CDbl(strP), CDbl(strD), CDbl(strFA)


End Sub

Sub HexNut()

'default 1/2 inch UNC 13 threads per inch

Dim strAF As String
strAF = InputBox("Nut Head A/F", "Screw Thread", 0.75, 100, 100)
If strAF = "" Then Exit Sub

Dim strH As String
strH = InputBox("Nut Head Thickness", "Screw Thread", 0.432, 100, 100)
If strH = "" Then Exit Sub


Dim strP As String
strP = InputBox("Pitch", "Screw Thread", 0.076923, 100, 100)
If strP = "" Then Exit Sub

Dim strD As String
strD = InputBox("Blank Diameter", "Screw Thread", 0.5, 100, 100)
If strD = "" Then Exit Sub

Dim strFA As String
strFA = InputBox("Flank Angle DEG", "Screw Thread", 30, 100, 100)
If strFA = "" Then Exit Sub

MinD = calcMinDia(CDbl(strP), CDbl(strD), CDbl(strFA))

Dim screwID As Long
Dim cylinID As Long

Dim headID As Long

screwID = draw_screw(True, CDbl(strH * 2), CDbl(strP), CDbl(strD), CDbl(strFA))
cylinID = draw3D_cylinder((MinD * 0.5) * 1.01, CDbl(strH * 2) + CDbl(strP))


Dim screwgraphic As Graphic
Set screwgraphic = ActiveDrawing.Graphics.GraphicFromID(screwID)

Dim cylingraphic As Graphic
Set cylingraphic = ActiveDrawing.Graphics.GraphicFromID(cylinID)


headID = draw3D_BoltHead(CDbl(strAF), -CDbl(strH))


Dim headgraphic As Graphic
Set headgraphic = ActiveDrawing.Graphics.GraphicFromID(headID)
headgraphic.MoveRelative 0, 0, CDbl(strH)

      
Dim nutter As New Boolean3D

Dim nutG As Graphic
Set nutG = nutter.Subtract(headgraphic, cylingraphic)  '

ActiveDrawing.Graphics.AddGraphic nutter.Subtract(nutG, screwgraphic) '


screwgraphic.Delete
cylingraphic.Delete
headgraphic.Delete

Set screwgraphic = Nothing
Set cylingraphic = Nothing
Set headgraphic = Nothing


End Sub


Sub HexBolt()
'default 1/2 inch UNC 13 threads per inch
Dim headID As Long

Dim cylinID As Long
Dim screwID As Long
Dim MinD As Double

Dim headgraphic As Graphic
Dim screwgraphic As Graphic
Dim cylingraphic As Graphic


Dim strAF As String
strAF = InputBox("Hex Head A/F", "Screw Thread", 0.75, 100, 100)
If strAF = "" Then Exit Sub


Dim strH As String
strH = InputBox("Hex Head Thickness", "Screw Thread", 0.313, 100, 100)
If strH = "" Then Exit Sub


Dim strP As String
strP = InputBox("Pitch", "Screw Thread", 0.076923, 100, 100)
If strP = "" Then Exit Sub


Dim strD As String
strD = InputBox("Blank Diameter", "Screw Thread", 0.5, 100, 100)

Dim strFA As String

strFA = InputBox("Flank Angle DEG", "Screw Thread", 30, 100, 100)
If strFA = "" Then Exit Sub


Dim strL As String

strL = InputBox("Length", "Screw Thread", 1, 100, 100)
If strL = "" Then Exit Sub


MinD = calcMinDia(CDbl(strP), CDbl(strD), CDbl(strFA))


headID = draw3D_BoltHead(CDbl(strAF), CDbl(strH))

Set headgraphic = ActiveDrawing.Graphics.GraphicFromID(headID)
screwID = draw_screw(True, CDbl(strL), CDbl(strP), CDbl(strD), CDbl(strFA))
Set screwgraphic = ActiveDrawing.Graphics.GraphicFromID(screwID)
cylinID = draw3D_cylinder(MinD * 0.5, CDbl(strL) + CDbl(strP))

Set cylingraphic = ActiveDrawing.Graphics.GraphicFromID(cylinID)

Dim Bolter As New Boolean3D

Dim BoltG As Graphic
Set BoltG = Bolter.Add(headgraphic, cylingraphic)  '

ActiveDrawing.Graphics.AddGraphic Bolter.Add(BoltG, screwgraphic) '

screwgraphic.Delete
cylingraphic.Delete
headgraphic.Delete

Set screwgraphic = Nothing
Set cylingraphic = Nothing
Set headgraphic = Nothing

Set Bolter = Nothing
Set BoltG = Nothing

End Sub



Private Function draw3D_cylinder(r As Double, L As Double) As Long

Dim App As Application
    Dim ActDr As Drawing
    Dim Grs As Graphics
    Dim gr As Graphic
    Dim Gr1 As Graphic
    Dim Ver As Vertex


Set App = IMSIGX.Application
Set ActDr = App.ActiveDrawing
Set Grs = ActDr.Graphics
Set gr = Grs.Add(, "TCW40EXTRUDE")  ' add the graphic of type extrude
gr.Properties("$PIPE") = 1 ' set this property to 1 to define normal path for extrude

   
    Set Gr1 = Grs.AddCircleCenterAndPoint(0, 0, 0, r, 0, 0)
    
    Set Gr1 = Grs.Remove(Gr1.Index) ' remove the base graphic from Graphics collection of the drawing
    gr.Graphics.AddGraphic Gr1 ' add the base grahic to graphics collection of extrude
    
   Set Ver = gr.Vertices.Add(0, 0, 0)
   Set Ver = Nothing

   Set Ver = gr.Vertices.Add(0, 0, L)
   Set Ver = Nothing

draw3D_cylinder = gr.ID

  Set Gr1 = Nothing

  Set gr = Nothing
  Set Grs = Nothing
  Set ActDr = Nothing

  Set App = Nothing


End Function






Private Function draw3D_BoltHead(af As Double, h As Double) As Long



Dim r As Double
r = 0.5513289 * af


Dim App As Application

Dim ActDr As Drawing
Dim Grs As Graphics
Dim gr As Graphic

Dim Gr1 As Graphic
Dim Ver As Vertex

Set App = IMSIGX.Application
Set ActDr = App.ActiveDrawing

Set Grs = ActDr.Graphics
Set gr = Grs.Add(, "TCW40EXTRUDE")  ' add the graphic of type extrude
gr.Properties("$PIPE") = 1 ' set this property to 1 to define normal path for extrude
 
    Set Gr1 = Grs.AddLinePolygon(0, 0, 0, r, 0, 0, 6)
    
    Set Gr1 = Grs.Remove(Gr1.Index) ' remove the base graphic from Graphics collection of the drawing

    gr.Graphics.AddGraphic Gr1 ' add the base grahic to graphics collection of extrude
    
   Set Ver = gr.Vertices.Add(0, 0, 0)
   Set Ver = Nothing

   Set Ver = gr.Vertices.Add(0, 0, -h)
   Set Ver = Nothing

draw3D_BoltHead = gr.ID

Set Gr1 = Nothing
Set gr = Nothing
Set Grs = Nothing

Set ActDr = Nothing
Set App = Nothing



End Function


Private Function calcMinDia(Pitch As Double, OD As Double, flankAngle As Double) As Double

Dim h As Double
h = Pitch / (2 * Tan(flankAngle * degtorad))
calcMinDia = OD - 2 * h
End Function

Private Function draw_screw(RightHanded As Boolean, Length As Double, Pitch As Double, OD As Double, flankAngle As Double) As Long


Dim rotang As Double


Dim P As Double     'pitch

Dim theta As Double 'flank angle
Dim S2 As Double    'Depth of truncation of triangular height at root

Dim S1 As Double    'Depth of truncation of triangular height at crest
Dim r2 As Double    'Root radius

Dim r1 As Double    'crest radius
Dim E As Double     'Effective Diameter

Dim n As Double     'Number of starts


Dim D As Double     'Major Diameter

Dim dmin As Double  'Minor Diameter
Dim h As Double     'height of thread

'D = E + 0.5 * P * cot(theta) - 2 * S1
'dmin = E - 0.5 * P * cot(theta) + 2 * S2
'h = 0.5 * P * cot(theta) - (S1 + S2)


  D = OD
  theta = flankAngle
  P = Pitch
  h = P / (2 * Tan(theta * degtorad))
  dmin = D - 2 * h

rotang = (Length / P) * 360

Dim App As Application
    Dim ActDr As Drawing
    Dim Grs As Graphics
    Dim gr As Graphic
    Dim Gr1 As Graphic
    Dim Ver As Vertex



    Set App = IMSIGX.Application
    Set ActDr = App.ActiveDrawing
    Set Grs = ActDr.Graphics
    
    Set gr = Grs.Add(, "TCW40SPIN")  '

    gr.Properties("$ROTATIONANGLE") = rotang 'deg
    gr.Properties("$STEP") = P + P * 0.0001 'pitch
    If RightHanded = True Then gr.Properties("$HANDINESS") = 0 Else gr.Properties("$HANDINESS") = 1
    gr.Properties("$COILNUMBER") = rotang / 360 'number of coils

   
   'screw axis
   Set Ver = gr.Vertices.Add(0, 0, 0)
   Set Ver = Nothing
   Set Ver = gr.Vertices.Add(100, 0, 0)
   Set Ver = Nothing

    
    
    Set Gr1 = Grs.Add(, "polyline")
    Set Ver = Gr1.Vertices.Add(0, dmin * 0.5, 0)
    Set Ver = Nothing
    
    Set Ver = Gr1.Vertices.Add(P * 0.5, D * 0.5, 0)
    Set Ver = Nothing

    
    Set Ver = Gr1.Vertices.Add(P, dmin * 0.5, 0)
    Set Ver = Nothing
    
    Set Ver = Gr1.Vertices.AddClose
    Set Ver = Nothing

   
   
    Set Gr1 = Grs.Remove(Gr1.Index)
    gr.Graphics.AddGraphic Gr1
   
   gr.RotateAxis PI / 2, 0, -1000, 0, 0, 1000, 0
  
   draw_screw = gr.ID

  Set Gr1 = Nothing
  Set gr = Nothing
  Set Grs = Nothing

  Set ActDr = Nothing
  Set App = Nothing

End Function

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