Helix

The Helix refers to a helical wire.

Go to Draw > Helix in the main menu to display the Draw dialog box for the Helix. This dialog box has four pages: Helix, Orientation, Attributes and Materials.

The Helix page

In the Helix page the geometrical parameters for the Helix can be set. There are two options: Start – Radius – Pitch – Turns and Start – End – Radius – Turns.

The Start – Radius – Pitch – Turns option allows us entering the Helix by setting its Start Point, Radius, Pitch and Number of turns, Figs. 1 and 2. If Pitch is positive (negative) the helix will be right-handed (left-handed). The helix axis can be set in the Orientation page, Fig. 3.

If Start – End – Radius – Turns is chosen, the helix will be drawn starting from Start Point and ending at End Point, with the given Radius and Number of turns, Figs. 4 and 5. The Number of turns must be an integer number, if it is positive (negative) the helix will be right-handed (left-handed). The orientation of the helix axis is determined by the starting and ending points. The helix can be rotated around its axis by given the Rotation Angle. The Orientation page will be invisible when the Start – End – Radius – Turns option is chosen.

Once the geometrical parameters in the Helix and Orientation pages have been set, the Attributes > page can be selected, where the number of segments and cross-section can be set. The wire resistivity and coating can be set in the Materials > page.

The Orientation page

In the Orientation page the orientation for the Helix can be set. There is a box with two options: Angles and Vector, Fig. 3.

If Angles is selected, the helix axis can be defined by given its direction in 3D space. This direction is determined by the Theta and Phi angles in spherical coordinates.

If Vector is selected, the helix axis can be defined by given a vector in the axis direction. Its Nx, Ny, and Nz components define this vector.

The helix can be rotated around its axis by given the Rotation Angle.