How would i create these shapes along this weapon surface?

[Anonymous]

Trying out 360 at work, LOVING it, this is my second week using it, very new. REALLY appreciate insights into this, this is definitely my biggest problem in 360 so far. i cant figure this out. it's been driving me mad. 

my problem is, i'm constantly needing to create a 'sketch' that i need to conform to a shape and then cut out that shape, or bevel in that shape. I have this kind of cylindrical shape, it's not a perfect cylinder, it's kind of scaled in a bit in X.

i need to cut out the holes along the barrel. i cant for the life of me understand how i can create a sketch and have it conform to the shape of that scaled cylinder. I need to do this type of work CONSTANTLY. the way i've been hacking it together in the past was to create a sketch, then circular pattern my cut out shape, but that wont work this time because this shape isn't a perfect circle. I cant just draw these pill shapes from the side and cut face because then i'll get some distortion on my cut shapes. i need the...sketch to actually wrap to the shape or something?

so...how in the hell would i 'conform' a sketch and have it wrap to my shape? this is killing me, finally time i asked on here. really hope someone understands what i'm trying to do. 

[davebYYPCU · Accepted solution]

Short answer is to build the result, what I would do...

1. Sketch on front view,  2 lines from centre of the barrel, long enough to fit the slot Geometry.

(first one horizontal- 2nd one at the angle for the top slot spacing.

2. Create a workplane, Construction > Plane on Path, for each of the lines you just did.

3. Draw the slots in a sketch on these two workplanes.

4. Extrude cut the slots.

5. Mirror top slots to the lower side.

Might help....

[Anonymous]

I've tried and tried to understand what you're saying but i just dont ...wrap my head around it. sorry, i'm still so new to 360. 

[etfrench]

The Sheet Metal workspace may give you more accurate cutouts assuming the panels are not compound curves.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much etfrench for that video. I've never used the sheetmetal tab before. i guess i need to look at it? that unfold feature is amazing! i'm going to try this out tomorrow. thanks for all the SUPER helpful advice everyone. 

cheers

[davebYYPCU · Accepted solution]

Sorry to confuse you, we never know how much experience you may have, 

To make the cuts in place, (with or without the surface being compound curves), other than Ed's sheet metal version, this file has what I said, 

Open the file, run up and down the timeline to check what's done, right click the timeline icons then Edit Feature to see the settings.

file attached.....

[Anonymous]

I'm actually really impressed with the community here. On the modo community, posts will go un-answered forever it seems. Here, people are actually helping. thanks again everyone, you guys rule. 

looking at that scene now! davebYYPCU, you're a genius. I didn't know i could do plane along a strait line like that. GENIUS. this is exactly what i wanted to do. My friend who has been using 360 for years keeps telling me to stick with this program, i'm just used to an ...archaic way of modeling i guess?

again, this problem was my biggest issue i was having. you really helped me out considerably everyone. thanks again so much!

cheers!