How to cut on multiple faces

I have a 3-sided short, wide inverted U-shape solid part which is 3mm
thick. The short flanges are about 20mm, and the slight arc is about
320mm wide. I created this part by shelling three faces. I'd like to
create a 2mm wide by 1mm deep continuous ridge along all the three
exterior surface (similar as if I would machine/mill or lathe a solid
part), but when I created a 2mm x 1mm rectangle sketch on one of the
end edge adn performed a cut command I can only select one target in
the extrude dialog box. So I'm ending up w/ a 2mm wide recess on only
one face. I'd like to continue this feature along the adjacent arc
surface and opposite mirror surface (inverted U-shape). I also tried
to KNIT (as well as few other suggestions) the three exterior surfaces
where I wanted to cut a 2mm recess, and still wasn't able to cut a
continuous 2mm wide recess along the flat-arc-flat exterior surfaces.
I'm a novice in this program and trying to teach myself, so please be
descriptive w/ your advice. However, I have a few years experience w/
AutoCAD and Vellum. Any excellent references will also be useful.
Cheers!

 

Randy,

Sorry, I don't quite get the question.. so.. could you post the file or
send the file to me... with an example of the problem or image of
something similar?

...

 

In sheetmetal if you are not getting the desired cut you can do a few things
first try it without Normal Cut on. If that doesn't work then try using the
split tool instead this works differently but may give the desired result.
there are always cut revolve and cut sweep if those suit your needs.

Corey

 

Paul,

Thanx for replying. I'll send you the file w/ an image of what I'm
trying to do later today.

 

Like Paul, I'm a bit confused by your post, since you talk about cutting,
but also about a ridge. I'm also confused about which side of the U, inside
or outside, you're working on. If you're trying to cut a constant depth slot
into the three inside faces of your part, you can probably use a cut to an
offset from a surface, using the surface knit from your three faces. You may
run into problems at the edges, though, because the cut can't extend past
the offset surface. You might be able to get around that by offsetting your
three faces, then extending/trimming that to offset 0 faces at the two end
faces.



Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"

 

Randy,

Ok, got your files (sorry for the delay) but I have SW2004 so I can not
show you the final files.

Image ref: http://zxys.com/misc/groove-cut.png

There are 2 simple ways to do this cut and the sketches used can be used
in either approach:

-Sweep Cut (profile and path)
-Cut w/thickness (edge copy w/thickness)

Sweep Cut - (Insert/Cut/Sweep) (you need a profile and path)
You already have a 1X2 groove profile sketch shown, now you need sweep
path sketch,..
so, for the sweep path, using the same front plane as your extrude thin
sketch... so, at the end of you "U" shape profile (w/the radii), copy
the whole outside edge using (right mouse button) "select tangency" and
"convert entity" (this copies the tangent edge)...
Now you have a profile and path.
The SW command is, Insert/Cut/Sweep
Select your 1x2 groove profile and select your sweep path.


Cut w/thickness - (Insert/Cut/Extrude)
Offset a plane from the front face of your "U" profile to the distance
or start of your groove. (you can do this with the above as well)
The above sweep "path" can be used for this sketch cut.
The only difference is the plane it resides on.
So now you have a copy of the "U" profile on the offset plane.
Now, you do a "Insert/Cut/Extrude" with "Thin Feature" (width).. the
values used will be that which define the groove width (thin feature)
and depth (direction 1).

...

 

Randy,
You could also create a 3-d sketch of the intended path, with a cut
profile at a managable place, then do a sweep cut (using the two
sketches) following the profile..
might work.. worth a try..

wentz

 

Paul,

Excellent solution and explanations. After spending sometime figuring
out your suggestion(s), I finally got it to work. Thank you so much
for taking the time and in your interest!

Randy

 

So, the next time Paul gets flamed by someone for having a bad attitude,
remember who it was who went so far out of his way to help you!

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"