Drawing helixes

A helix is a curve turning about an axis on the surface of a cylinder (cylindrical helix) or cone (conical helix) while rising at a constant upward angle from a base.

A spiral is a planar curve that winds around a fixed center point at a continuously increasing distance from that point.

The HELIX command can create both 3D helixes and 2D spirals.

The Helix tool is available on:

  • the Draw menu
  • the Polylines toolbar
  • the Draw ribbon panel

General procedure to draw a spiral

  1. Launch the HELIX command.

    Number of turns = 3 Twist = CCW

    You are prompted: Specify center point of base:

  2. Specify a point.

    Specify base radius or [Diameter] <1>:

  3. Do one of the following:
    • Specify a point.
    • Type a value, then press Enter.

    You are prompted: Specify top radius or [Diameter] <base radius>:

  4. Do one of the following:
    • Specify a point.
    • Type a value, then press Enter.

    You are prompted: Specify helix height or [Axis endpoint/Turns/turn Height/tWist] <1>:

  5. Type 0 (zero), then press Enter

General procedure to draw a helix



  1. Launch the HELIX command.

    Number of turns = 3 Twist = CCW

    You are prompted: Specify center point of base:

  2. Specify a point (1).

    You are prompted: Specify base radius or [Diameter] <1>:

  3. Do one of the following (2):
    • Specify a point.
    • Type a value, then press Enter.
  4. Do one of the following (3):
    • Press Enter to set the top radius equal to the base radius, thus creating a cylindrical helix.
    • Specify a point.
    • Type a value, then press Enter.

    You are prompted: Specify helix height or [Axis endpoint/Turns/turn Height/tWist] <1>:

  5. Do one of the following (4):
    • Specify a point.
    • Type a value, then press Enter.

Editing a helix

  1. Select the helix.

    The helix properties display in the Geometry category in the Properties panel.

  2. Edit the properties:
    • Constrain: constrains either the height, turn height or number of turns. The unconstrained properties are adjusted automatically.
    • Height: Overall height of the helix. height = turn height * turns.
    • Turns: Number of turns.
    • Turn height: Height of one turn.
    • Base radius: start radius.
    • Top radius: end radius.
    • Twist: direction CW (Clockwise) or CCW (Counterclockwise).
Note:
  • Set the Top radius = Base radius for cylindrical helixes.
  • Set Height or Turn height to zero for spirals.
  • The EXPLODE command turns a helix into a spline.