Sketch On the O.D. of a Cylinder

[stang5197]

How do you sketch on the outside circumference of a cylinder, using S.W. 06?

I have a 3-1/2" diameter cylinder that has been extruded 2" thick, but need to sketch slots on the circumference similar to the circular pattern function on standard flat face.

[Beta]

Are you wanting to sketch virtical to the cylinder or horizontal?...

[JerryFlyGuy]

There are four ways to complete process that I can think of. I've forgotten all the functionality of 06 however, so some of these functions may have come into play since then.

1- Embossed 'wrap'. Sketch the slot on a plane out near the surface of the cylinder and then emboss the slot, then pattern as needed. The dimensional stability of the 'wrap' is something you'd have to check. I've never used a wrap for anything other than cosmetic stuff which aren't critical dimensionally.

2- Do an extruded cut from a center plane thru the tube. this will NOT give a 'normal to' cut w/ the cut walls perp to the face of th cylinder, but this may be ok in your case..

3- 3D Sketch on surface, however this may not be usable as a 3d sketch can be problematic to use as a base feature like a cut or extrude.

4- Lofted boss w/ a Combine [subtraction] function. If you need to have the slot walls perp to the face of the cylinder, then you'll have to do a lofted cut or a lofted body w/ a subract feature, then pattern that around the cylinder as needed.

If you were using 08' I'd suggest a solid swept cut which mimic's a end mill in it's cutting path, however that isn't an option for 06'.

J

[stang5197]

Thanks for the points, I will give it a try.