Help with inset groove around select portion of cylinder

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to create a groove around a small portion of a cylinder. Kind of like the pipe command, but only around a specific area of a cylinder. I'm attaching a screenshot of the area I'm wanting to have an inset groove encircle as a border. Is there an easy way to make this groove circle the vents in the screen shot to create a border? If the area was flat, I'd have no problem sketching around the grooves with a thin border and then extruding into the plane to create the groove, but the curve is really throwing me off. It's probably something very simple, but the solution eludes me. I would really appreciate any help someone may have for me to solve this problem I'm having. Thanks so much.

[etfrench]

The revolve command will do this. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for responding. I've attached another image where I've hand drawn the groove to simulate it's placement. I'm not sure how the revolve tool will work for this. Am I missing something?

I'm sure there is a simple way to make this groove, but the solution escapes me. 🙂

Any help you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

There are a couple of ways to do this.  The screencast below shows a couple of them.  Which you choose depends on the results you are trying to get.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Awesome, Jeff!

I have to step out for a minute, but as soon as I get back, I'm going to look at your screencast. I am looking to create a groove (like the pipe feature) around the vents to create a border. I tried the sheetmetal, but it seems to be a lot of trial and error as I create an extrusion band over the area (cylinder that contains the vents), unfold, sketch, extrude, fillet, the extrusion, fold and try to cut the sheetmetal extrusion into the cylinder that contains the vents. Not sure this workflow will work, so am glad to try your suggestions. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Thanks Jeff for the help. Such a simple solution and you explained it beautifully!