To create a helix (coil) with a circular cross section, in the Geometry toolbar click Helix (). You can also right-click the Geometry node to add this node from the context menu. Then enter the properties of the helix using the sections in the Settings window.

From the Type list, select Solid (the default) to create a solid helix, or select Surface to create a hollow helix that consists of surfaces only.

The Number of turns field contains a positive number. The default value is 3 turns.

Select Right handed or Left handed from the Chirality list. The chirality or handedness of the helix can be either right handed (the default) or left handed. For a right handed helix, a clockwise screwing motion moves the helix away from the observer; for a left handed helix, a clockwise screwing motion moves it toward the observer.

From the End caps list, select an option to create the end caps of the helix:

The Parallel to axis and Perpendicular to axis options modify the helix in the vicinity of the end caps. They only give a valid geometry if the axial pitch is relatively small or large, respectively.

This is the center position for the starting turn of the helix. Enter the coordinates in the x, y, and z fields. The default position is the origin.

Select the Axis type: x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, Cartesian, or Spherical.

Rotate the helix around its axis by entering an angle in the Rotation field. The default value is 0 degrees.

The coordinate system in which the position, axis, and rotation angles above are interpreted. From the Work plane list, select xy-plane (the default, for a standard global Cartesian coordinate system) or select any work plane defined above this node in the geometry sequence. If you choose a work plane, the work plane and its coordinate system appear in the Graphics window, using an extra coordinate triad with the directions xw, yw, and zw (which are then used to specify the position of the helix).

By default, the Twist compensation check box is selected, which prevents the twisting that would otherwise occur due to nonzero torsion for curves that do not belong to a fixed plane. Twist compensation rotates the base circle during the sweep along the helix curve by an amount equal to the integral of the curve torsion.

From the Geometry representation list, select Spline (the default) to represent the helix using splines, or Bézier, to represent the helix using Bézier curves. The difference is that using Bézier curves, the intersections between the surfaces that form the helix are visible edges, whereas they are hidden when using splines.

The value in the Relative tolerance field is a relative tolerance that controls the accuracy of the geometric representation of the helix. The geometric representation is an approximation, which is necessary because it is not possible to exactly represent a helix using NURBS (nonuniform rational basis splines). The default value is 10−4 (or 0.01%).

Select the Resulting objects selection check box to create predefined selections (for all levels — objects, domains, boundaries, edges, and points — that are applicable) in subsequent nodes in the geometry sequence. To also make all or one of the types of resulting entities (domains, boundaries, edges, and points) that the helix consists of available as selections in all applicable selection lists (in physics and materials settings, for example), choose an option from the Show in physics (Show in instances if in a geometry part) list: All levels, Domain selection, Boundary selection, Edge selection, or Point selection. The default is Domain selection, which is suitable for use with materials and physics defined in domains. For use with a boundary condition, for example, choose Boundary selection. These selections do not appear as separate selection nodes in the model tree. Select Off to not make any selection available outside of the geometry sequence. From the Color list, choose a color for highlighting the resulting objects selection. See Selection Colors.

If you want to make the resulting entities contribute to a cumulative selection, select a cumulative selection from the Contribute to list (the default, None, gives no contribution), or click the New button to create a new cumulative selection (see Cumulative Selections).

Select the Construction geometry check box to make the resulting objects available only in the feature’s geometry sequence. For more information, see Construction Geometry.