Discussion Forum

Hi all, I'm working with designing spiral microfluidics channels that radiate outwards, with the Radius Of Curvature changing over time, ideally every 180 degree turn of the channel or maybe with a constant change in ROC. The helix tool is useful if the channel cross-section is a perfect circle, I can make as many turns I want with one geometry command, however if I want a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional channel it seems I'm stuck with using a work plane to draw my cross-section geometry, then revolving that work plane. If I want to do a channel that has multiple passes, I have to do several revolve commands, each starting from the end surface of the previous and increasing the revolution axis to make larger spiral channel.

Is there a way to combine the two features, like use the spiral command with a specific cross-section design? I'm think something like the sweep feature found in Solidworks, which requires a profile and a cross section shape and it just extrudes the shape along the path.

It's not really vital, I mean the revolve method isn't as tedious as what some of my partners and I were doing before I discovered the revolve command (make 2 concentric circles of different sizes, a rectangle that intersects half of their areas, then take a Boolean difference to cut out the parts I don't need. Very tedious). I'm just curious if I can optimize the geometry-making process even further.
Thanks!