Workplane for Shaft

[BillB]

Hi Folks,

 

Here's something I ran into that I just can't get my head wrapped around. I want to place a "Workplane" at the end of a cylindrical shaft, (opposite end of the XY origin plane). Now normally on a rectangular or square part it's not a problem because you have a corner to pick your point. So my question is, how do you get a workplane on the end of a cylindrical part? This will probably end up being something simple and I will feel like a fool, but it sure won't be the first time. Here's a screen shot of what I am working on.

 

Thanks for any help and suggestions.

 

BillB

[BillB]

O.k. Guys,,, disregard this post, I figured it out. Always happens when you spend an hour or so trying to figure something out and then decide to post.

 

You all take care

 

BillB

[shift1313]

Bill, just as a note, you do not need a work plane there. If you need to sketch something, just select the end face of the shaft as your sketch plane.

[Pablo Ferral]

I would click and drag on the end face, and then set the offset to 0. Any other methods?

[kencaz]

Bill, just as a note, you do not need a work plane there. If you need to sketch something, just select the end face of the shaft as your sketch plane.

 

Good point shift! You can just sketch off of the surface...

 

KC

[BillB]

Hey Guys, thanks for the replies. I was really having a senior moment for a while. I was thinking at first that I needed to set a Workplane at that the end surface and then make another Workplane offset from it so i could make a snap ring groove a certain distance from that end. I did do what Pablo stated and then offset but then realized I didn't have to set the first Workplane, just pick the surface and enter the offset distance where the groove goes. Duuuh, I finally pulled my head out of the dark and lonely place. Thanks again Matt, Pablo and K.C., take care.

 

BillB

[JD Mather]

Duuuh, I finally pulled my head out of the dark and lonely place.

 

Actually you most likely didn't need to create any workplanes. You should alread have two Origin workplanes running down the axis of the shaft. Simply start a sketch on one of those Origin workplanes, sketch rectangle dimension size and location and Revolve Cut.

 

I try to avoid creating an uneeded geometry. Following this practice as your parts get more complex they are easier to edit and less likely to fail. On your shaft part to change the location of the groove as you have done it would require editing the offset plane. Be aware that when you change an offset distance on a workplane you usually need to do an Update before a change will take place. With my method you only need to edit the sketch dimension as usual.

[shift1313]

Actually you most likely didn't need to create any workplanes. You should alread have two Origin workplanes running down the axis of the shaft. Simply start a sketch on one of those Origin workplanes, sketch rectangle dimension size and location and Revolve Cut.

 

I try to avoid creating an uneeded geometry. Following this practice as your parts get more complex they are easier to edit and less likely to fail. On your shaft part to change the location of the groove as you have done it would require editing the offset plane. Be aware that when you change an offset distance on a workplane you usually need to do an Update before a change will take place. With my method you only need to edit the sketch dimension as usual.

 

 

On the same token as JD mentioned, this shaft could have been done with a single sketch and revolve. This would include the grooves. I would still add Chamfers to the shaft after the fact rather than in the revolve sketch.

 

And as a note on a note, this is one thing thats nice in Solidworks that im not sure Inventor does. You could draw a sketch at your origin plane and when you extrude-cut you can enter an offset distance to start the cut as opposed to starting on the work plane. Inventor has From/To but you need some geometry to select these.

[BillB]

Hey J.D. & Matt,

 

Yup,,, I have done that method before also, sometimes hard to remember all the different ways to accomplish the same results. I will have to make a note of that because it does seem a lot cleaner way of doing the ring grooves, thanks again guys, take care.

 

BillB

[shift1313]

As another note for you bill. I cant recall if its integrated in the newer version or how but iFeature catalog has standard cutouts and things. One that comes to mind is the keyways.

[BillB]

Good idea Matt, I'll keep that in mind, thanks

 

BillB