How do I create a honeycomb cutout on cylindrical surface

sean_trainor1988

I'm a bit stumped on how to create something similar to the image below.  I can create a hexagon cut and circular pattern this to create the top line, and then I can create a second sketch below the first with the hexagon offset. This seems tedious and can require some messing about to get it right. Is there a better method?

Alex_Pitt

Hexagon cuts and patterning sounds about right. This is how I'd do it...
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8757d8c876abde9ae1f60980/w/f11ce76bb83401bea4b57c24/e/98ec6f811870274eb671a942

Alex_Pitt

Hexagon cuts and patterning sounds about right. This is how I'd do it...
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/8757d8c876abde9ae1f60980/w/f11ce76bb83401bea4b57c24/e/98ec6f811870274eb671a942

sean_trainor1988

Thanks @Alex_Pitt this is exactly the result I was looking for but was unable to achieve exactly. I'm not used to boolean operations so I was stuck in the mindset of creating a revolved cut pattern, fill command, or creating the sketch on the face.

Alex_Pitt

Glad it helped!

MichaelPascoe

Another approach:

To maintain the shape of the hexagons and keep the hexagon cuts normal to the surface, I have found this method to work well: 

• Create the ellipse or circle shape on the top plane
• Create the hexagon pattern sketch on the front plane (Note: I used the custom feature Measure Value to get the parameter of the ellipse and calculate the spacing of the hexagons.)
• Use the custom feature Fold by @konstantin_shiriazdanov
• Fill the hexagon curves
• Thicken add/remove the hexagon surfaces

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/bad89fe0c2b39b8311c17fa8/w/8bec194c72a504899997ae8f/e/4d1406d7f109c4edd6cf99ef