How to repeat or pattern a cut on an elongated face (surface)

How to repeat or pattern a cut on an elongated face (surface)

Anonymous
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How to repeat or pattern a cut on an elongated face (surface)

Anonymous
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I have a model with a long thin faces (the faces are reinforcement "ribs" inside an airplane wing).

 

To keep the 3D-printed wing light, I want to cut away the rib using circles or triangles.  See the attached photo for an example.  In the attached photo, the "ribs" are slightly curved, but I could also make them straight if that would help.

 

Is there any way to repeat a sketch shape or model feature along a path on a face, but with scaling.  The circle cutouts need to get smaller and smaller as the height of the wing cross-section changes.

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etfrench
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Did you find an answer?  The basic process is to use a loft.  Create a sketch at each end with the profile of the cutout for each.  If you want the cutouts to take a curved path, then use a spline as a guide. You can use multiple sketches if you want the profile to change along the length, for example if you want the center wider than the ends. If the cutouts are the same from the fuselage to the wing tip, then you can use a rectangular pattern. 

ETFrench

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