How do I 3d sketch on a curved surface so I can extrude cut

[Spencer myers]

Is there a way to create a plane following a curved surface to 3d sketch on to.

[Tony the Ferret]

Is there a way to create a plane following a curved surface to 3d sketch on to.

Hi, is this not a contradiction ?, a plane is a flat object (well it is in my world) so cannot follow a 3D shape. Of course you could create one that was flat to the extents of a surface, and the project the 2D sketch onto the surface.. oh sorry, that is in other software , i dont know what S/W can do !!!

[DanSinOhio]

...the actual process may differ. If the extrude cut you want to perform matches a contour of the surface you can use the geometry of the surface itself and just copy/translate to the position you want to cut. If the cut is a different shape just create the geometry then translate it to the surface and perform your cut there.

[Spencer myers]

Thank you guys I will try it and see what happens

[keebler303]

I think you are interested in creating a reference plane? You can sketch on a surface but it doesn't sound like thats really what you want.

[Spencer myers]

Basically what I want to do is draw sketches onto a 14 inch radius fretboard for guitars to do all my inlay work. I've drawn the fret board and all the fret groves. I'm able to create a plane above the radius board then sketch in 3d then cut down to the desired depth. Thing is it makes a flat bottom not the curve bottom. I can do exactly what I want to in 2d sketch. The problem with 2d is I can't contol a spline the way I can 3d. It dosnt have spline points that I can move anywhere. And things don't snap at points the right way, it snaps but I have to go back and zoom real close then drag it to exact point. 2d sketching is really hard to me. It's not the same as 3d.

[keebler303]

Instead of choosing some depth, choose "offset from surface" on your extruded cut and it will maintain a constant depth over the whole surface.

I have not done too much with splines so I cannot help there.

Matt

[Spencer myers]

Really!! That easy I'll try it.

[mcphill]

Or you can create a surface that is offset from the fret face. Then Extrude Cut down to that new surface.

[PMF]

Spencer,

Did you figure out what you were trying to do?

[Spencer myers]

I did get one way to work I created a flat plane above the fretboard, then sketched something and did offset from surface. But I still don't get why splines in 2D are not very manageable. And things don't snap properly either. My curser is a large plus not a pencil. Is there some kind of setting I'm missing to find? 3D works great!! Any thoughts.

[Mike 1948]

I did get one way to work I created a flat plane above the fretboard, then sketched something and did offset from surface. But I still don't get why splines in 2D are not very manageable. And things don't snap properly either. My curser is a large plus not a pencil. Is there some kind of setting I'm missing to find? 3D works great!! Any thoughts.

I was having some minor issues with dimensioning and had to do a "repair" reinstallation. It cleared up the problem. You might try that. Easy to do

Mike