How to pattern a feature on a cylinder/round surface via sketch guides

[Magicblack]

Hi,

this is my first post on this forum (forum is awesome BTW).

I want to create a circular pattern on a tube, but instead of the pattern following a 2D pattern axis I would like to the pattern to follow a 3d pattern axis.

Is it a simple as applying a 3d sketch on to the round surface?

I have tried a projected curve via a 2D sketch to no avail.

Please advise and thanks in advance.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

The Spline on Surface might work for you.

http://help.solidworks.com/2011/Eng...help/sldworks/sw_sketch/spline_on_surface.htm

 

[Magicblack]

No Success with spline surfaces

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

What determines the shape of the path?
How did you create the sketch?

 

[JMirisola]

How many slots are you trying to put in? Is there some sort of symmetry?

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

How did the Spline On Surface not work for you?
Did you receive an error message?

 

[rollupswx]

Attach your *.sldprt here (roll up the feature tree and zip before attaching).

 

[rollupswx]

Is something like this what you are trying to do?

 

[Magicblack]

File part attached.

I created my curve sketch on a 2D plane and projected the curve on the curved surface.

Ideally I would like to pattern the Slots a total of 10x, equally spaced following the "guide curve" around the tube.

It seems like a simple practice, but i am thinking this would be possible if the the circular pattern feature had a 'guide curve' option like creating a loft.

 

[Magicblack]

rollupswx

Thats exactly what I am trying to do with a slot as opposed to a circle.

 

[rollupswx]

Is there a reason your Sketch2 is not symmetrical and not constrained?
Also, I suspect that projected curve is not really what you want, but rather a wrapped curve (check it from different views - it is not uniform).
Can you give more information about the design intent?

 

[Magicblack]

The design is an aesthetic garden decor piece, with light penetrating through the perforated areas.

I need to create one continuous path but I would like the curve to be symmetrical. The symmetrical path is causing multiple contours versus one straight path.

I have seen others cut this in flat sheet metal form and then roll it, but I would like to create the pattern in solid form.

What is the best way to create a wrapped curve on a round surface?

The other solution is that i create multiple planes and do extruded cuts, but that make take some time.

 

[Magicblack]

I am almost there now.

I was able to use a curve driven pattern after creating the slot sketch parallel to the surface and making coincident to the 3D sketch spline on the curved surface.

However, the pattern does not pattern like it would in a circular pattern mode, the pattern is not staying parallel to the tangent face and i get this result.

 

[Magicblack]

Any update on this?

 

[Magicblack]

BUMP! Any update on this?