Create plane parallel to taper

[deRabes]

Hi
I'm not sure this will do. The problem is that the plane does not follow the contour of the curve so if I create a sketch on the flat plane and extrude a cut into the curved surface as the inlay it will not follow the curve but will have high and low points.

[abstracted]

I don't know what your inlay is, but I think this is what we're looking for? The depression has a uniform depth through the entire profile.

[deRabes]

That looks good. Will it work like this on the curved section behind those flats? Also can I use this method on a tapered shaft section?
Thanks again

[abstracted]

Yes, you can do this for any strangely shaped face(s). There are multiple ways to do this depending on what your working with.

1) Start by making a plane that you will sketch the inlay from, it's orientation should be as if you were going to extrude the inlay into the model. Extrude the inlay (as a surface, not as a solid) so that it intersects the face(s) that the inlay penetrates. Use the split command to split the face(s) at the intersection with the inlay extrusion. Finally use the Thicken/Offset command to indent the inlay.

In the following image you can see an example of the surface I am talking about



Note (if you don't already know) that going with the thicken/offset command makes the offset extend in the normal direction at the edges of your profile. You can make the edges extend in an axial direction using a different method (Difference in next image).

[deRabes]

thats great. I'll work on that. Thanks a lot for your help.