Cylinder ’insets’

[Optrix]

Hi, I'm fairly new to Solidworks, and found this forum looking for some help with designing a part.

The part will be a hollow cylinder, sliced in half down the centre, and will have 'inset' sections cut into the inside of it (like grooves).

What is the best way to go about modelling such a part?

I'm thinking the easiest way would be to draw a cross-section of the grooves, and rotate it by 180 degrees with respect to some point. (which will be the centre axis of the cylinder). Is there such an option for this kind of thing?

Thanks alot

 

[SSLaser]

If the grooves are simply circular, then a simple revolved cut will work: Insert > Cut > revolve. You'll have to sketch the cut cross section, and select the revolve axis (the cylinder axis). To see the axis, click View > Temporary Axis.


If the grooves are following a spiral path up the inside of the cylinder, then you'll have to do a sweep, but first you'll need to define the helical path:
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">


The quickest way is to click Insert > Curve > Helix/Spiral. This starts a sketch: click the surface where you want to sketch the diameter of the spiral- this also defines where the spiral starts. Click the end of the (half-) cylinder, then snap a circle to the inside of the cylinder (for instance).


When you exit the sketch, you'll see a preview of the helix. The PopertyManager allows you to change the parameters of the helix, constant or variable pitch, direction, # of revolutions (doesn't have to be a whole number), start angle, etc.


Maybe there's a better way, but what I do from here is create a plane at thestart of the helix, normal to the helix: Insert > Reference Geometry > Plane. Click the endpoint of the helix, then the helix itself near the end. This will automatically create a plane normal to the helix.


Use this plane to sketch the profile of your cut.


Now click Insert > Cut > Sweep. Click anywhere on the newly created profile, then click the helix as the patch. You should instantly get a preview. Set your options, then OK.</BLOCKQUOTE>
Hope this helps.
Edited by: SSLaser

 

[Optrix]

Thank you very much for your response. The grooves are only circular, so I need to do a revolve cut then, like you said. Thanks for the information on cutting a helix though, I'm sure I will use that sooner or later.

I have drawn the 'half' cylinder, and I'm attempting to cut the first groove. I clicked insert > cut > revolve like you said, and was prompted to choose a planar face on which to draw the cross-section of the cut to be revolved. I choose one of the flat edges, on top, and sketched the square cross section.

I clicked view > temporary axis, and the (centerline) axis appeared, which I used to draw the cylinder. So I then clicked this axis, selected 180' from the menu on the left, and clicked the green tick, but it gave me this message:



What exactly do I need to do in order to properly select the axis of revolution? (since simply clicking it doesn't seem to work)

Thanks, optrix


Edited by: Optrix

 

[Optrix]

Not to worry, I managed to do it, just after I posted that message. Once again, thanks for for the help though.

optrix