Modeling Help: Helical Coil Help

[SWAT One]

I'm dealing with this sucker.  Right here.



How would I best get this coil to "stick" to the surface of the drill head without using a nightmarish amount of trig on each of the 61 coil corners?

I am using Milkshape 3D version 1.8.4.

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[Demian]

Just because the coil is on the surface of the cone doesn't mean it has to be actually part of it. Other than manually moving the parts to the surface I have no clue how to do it. I even don't know how you would do that in Blender.

[Aware]

Scale each section down to the drill, it won't be perfect but I can't think of any way to automatically do this.

[SWAT One]

If there is a "scale to Origin" option, maybe I could do that with only the Z-axis, but then again, I'd have to do that with 60 parts.  This could lead to a great deal of inaccuracy and would also smash the threads down.

You're right, Demian, but until I see that I can't do that, I will continue it.

[Aware]

If there is a "scale to Origin" option, maybe I could do that with only the Z-axis, but then again, I'd have to do that with 60 parts.  This could lead to a great deal of inaccuracy and would also smash the threads down.

Milkshape is an extremely basic modeling program, so it doesn't have the advanced features modeling programs like Blender have.

[SWAT One]

I rotated the curve about the origin on the Z-axis.  Scaling should be fine.

[Demian]

The spiral part will get thinner towards the top when you scale it though.
Edit: I actually just though of a way to do but I'm not sure how I would get a spiral curve in Blender.
Edit2: Got it. Send me the MilkShape file pictured in OP and I'll do it for you.

[SWAT One]

Sure.  I'll get it in.  Would a different format be better?

[Demian]

Sorry. My Blender-fu isn't strong enough and I can't figure out how to not make the thing correctly. The triangle shape rotates along the curve destroying the "blade" look.

[SWAT One]

If you need to rotate the triangles, they are rotated by 30° each rotation.  Or ^π/₁₂ for those who use radians.

[Dglider]

I think I may... or may not have figured out a way to do this using Blender 2.6 and the shrinkwrap modifier.

If you send me the file Ill be sure to give it a shot. ^.^

[TheKhoz]

Here's a video I made, trying to explain the way I would do it. (Sorry, you'll have to download it)

http://www.mediafire.com/download/h1q3gtpc1wkwk20/CoilTutorial.mp4

This is not precise and is not really a tutorial, even though I call it that. It's more of a suggested method that may or may not work for what you are trying to achieve.

[Demian]

I gave it another shot. I couldn't do the exact same design but I could do this.