Milling Feature into a shaft 1

[snubengr]

Hello:

I am trying to put a slot into a shaft which follows a fairly convoluted path, but the slot itself is the same shape and size throughout. I believe I need to make the slot profile sketch and then a sketch of the path to sweep the feature through but I can't figure out how to make a sketch which is on the face of the cylinder.

Any suggestions, comments are very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dennis

 

[DesignerMike]

You will have to create a 3D sketch to use as the path. This sketch will have to be on the surface of the shaft.

First off, do you need to go more than 180 degrees around the shaft? If so, this method will not work, but might give you a start.

You can create a 3D sketch with intersecting surfaces. Create a surface of the slot profile (basically a top view). The 3D sketch would then be created with the intersection of this surface and the surface of the shaft. I think if you sweep the cut profile along this path, it will not rotate to follow the surface of the shaft, so you may have to loft the profile and use the 3D sketch as a rail.

This probably doesn't make much sense, and there is probably a better way to go about it. But if you are stuck, it might give you some ideas

 

[snubengr]

I actually only need to go about 50 degrees around the shaft, and I understand the 3-d sketch concept, but I'm falling down on how to make a sketch on the surface of the cylinder.

As for lofting...what you talkin' bout Mike? (I just have no experience with it at all).

Thanks for your quick reply,

Dennis

 

[SeanDotson]

Use a 3d sketch on a path parallel to the tangent of the cylinder. Next use the project geometry tool to project the intersection of the spline and the surface of the cylinder.

Sean Dotson, PE
Autodesk Inventor Certified Expert

http://www.sdotson.com

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