How to create a groove

Tim_Swait

I'm trying to create a constant depth groove into a complex curving face (for a seal). You can see below my first attempt, I've drawn a sketch on a plane above the component and then used it to remove a groove from my part (going to a blind depth). However this creates a groove with a flat bottom, but the surface it's on isn't flat, so the result isn't even close to constant depth. I've tried the "Up to part" option in the extrude setting, but then it stops at the part and doesn't create anything at all. Really I want an "up to part plus a couple of mm" option, but there isn't one, so how else can I create this groove?
Thanks.

robert_morris

You had the right idea with the "Up to part" option, but instead of selecting "Remove", set it to be a New part.

Then you can use the Transform tool to move the new part to the depth that you want the cut and use the Boolean Subtract feature with the new part as the tool and the existing part as the target. That should get you what you want.

robert_morris

You had the right idea with the "Up to part" option, but instead of selecting "Remove", set it to be a New part.

Then you can use the Transform tool to move the new part to the depth that you want the cut and use the Boolean Subtract feature with the new part as the tool and the existing part as the target. That should get you what you want.

3dcad

I suppose you could also use sweep. Draw shape in horizontal plane and use the edge as sweep path.

I have requested offset possibility to those 'up to something' extrudes, it would certainly make things easier in certain cases.

Tim_Swait

Thank you, that works!