Cutting a path into a thick-walled tube

There was a long thread a while back about an angled O-ring grove that might answer some questions. There are some models that you could download a picture is worth a thousand words. If that doesn't help let us know. here is the link.

...in SW2k4 the new "wrap" with deboss option, may fit your needs, but it will not wrap more than one revolution, the other tool that may fit the job is "cut-Sweep" but without knowing how the job will be produced its difficult to be specific.

Best,

JAG

Hello Nick,

I have taken a couple of approaches in the past.

1. create a using sheetmetal functionality and unfold to a flat.

- create your cutout path

- refold and fill the small gap using normal functionality

1. use the warp functionality someone else mentioned if it doesnt do a rull rev

1. If you do this alot, you might want to check out a great program called CAMtrax from Camnetics

Mike

Nick wrote:

Mike Lamora wrote

(snip)

Brilliant. That's just the job. Thanks Mike and everyone else who helped!

Nick

Keep in mind that the groove modeled with sheet metal tools will NOT have parallel sides once it is rolled up again. If you're trying to model a groove cut by an endmill, this will only be an approximation. And it may give some heartburn to a CAM program trying to figure out what cutter to use.

I had to model some barrel cams for a zoom optical system, and finally bought a copy of Solid Sketch from DynaBits. This let me wrap a sketch around a solid cylinder to sweep a toolpath. It was worth every cent, and paid for itself the first day.

Art W.