1-I have been extruding (protrusion) shape to surface and removing material using offset of same surface. It is a two step work around ...
2-But my surfaces were too close together to do up to surface on both sides of the sketch plane. Which has worked.
3-I have extruding (cut) up to offset (inner) surface.
I think this is the same reply as cehall's but I'll explain anyway.
Create a datum plane tangential to the direction you want the text to be at e.g. If you are modelling a clock and you want the figures on the outside of the clock, starting with one, draw a datum curve at 30 degrees to the vertical on the edge where 1 o clock will be. This is your sketching plane. Choose another plane for the orientation. Sketch the text as normal, giving it a double sided blind depth, exnsure the depth is sufficient so there are no gaps.
When you have completed all the text features, you will need to do a revolved cut leaving the text at a height you require.
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Hope this helps.
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maybe only a drafter
but the best user at this company!
If you are looking to apply a cosmetic type text (such as part number marking), go to cosmetic sketch, project. You select the cylindrical surface and make a projected datum. Works pretty well although only on parts.
The tool to do this in Wildfire is called "Expand" and is a part of the "Offset" tool... It can be done in 2 features.
1)Create a datum curve of the text you want to write on the part.
2)Select the surface you want to offset the text from. (so that it highlights in pink)
3)Hit Edit-->Offset
a)Click the drop-down menu next to the 'flip' button in the feature dashboard.
b)Select 'expand'.
c)Choose 'options' (right above the drop down menu where you chose the expand tool)
d)Change "Expand Area Type" to 'Sketched region'
e)Copy the curve using the "use edge" tool in sketcher
(NB-> you cant sketch text from here which is why you need to make the curve with the text first)
f) Set the offset appropriately (use the drag handle).
This will allow you to add writing on any surface, provided that the offset value that you use will not cause a surface failure.
Wildfire 2 has also introduced parametric text functionality for features like this, meaning that text cutouts can be controlled by family tables, relations etc.
