Problems with Follow Me cutting radius thru joints

rcmackenzie · 2 Jan 2018, 16:31

Greetings all.

Referencing the attached, am trying to set up putting a 1/4 radius on the top surfaces of drawer front and sides. Have included a drawer lock joint, as shown. I have shown the start of the inner radius. Each piece is a separate group, nested in a group. My problem is using the Follow Me tool, the cut stops at the joint, and can not turn the corner. also stops if I try and radius the isolated side piece. Push/pull also does not cut the joint.

Any suggestions on how to complete the radius' ? Think I've solved before but can't remember how. May have used a plug in?

Dave R · 2 Jan 2018, 17:14

Follow Me only works in one context at a time.

I would create a "cutter" for the roundovers outside the two components and make it a component making sure all are solid components. Then I would use Trim and Keep (See the Sketchucation Extension Store) and use the cutter to trim the other two components.

rcmackenzie · 2 Jan 2018, 18:47

Dave, great to see you are still out there, you were a great help with a prior project. Love you work.

The trim tool helped a bit, see .jpg. thought I came up with a better plug in tool previously.

Dave R · 2 Jan 2018, 18:52

Glad that worked for you. Open the right hand component for editing, select the geometry, right click and choose Soften/Smooth Edges.

Thanks for the compliments. HNY.

rcmackenzie · 2 Jan 2018, 19:38

Of course Catchup always provides other options! Had also thought about using a cross section to produce the drawer box with follow me. Per attached. (Easy solution)

Then, just for my pleasure, draping the joint edge over the top of the corner? ( graphically pleasing) or

Creating a diagonal cut of the joint that I could then insert? And perhaps then trim so the joint projects thru the two components?

My intent was to create the front, back and two sides, with the top radius and properly showing the joint for each end as well as the kerf for the drawer base. I can visualize them but can't quite produce them

Dave R · 3 Jan 2018, 03:12

Maybe this is what you're trying to describe. You could draw the drawer box using a rectangular path, a section profile, and Follow Me. Then draw a "cutter" to intersect at the corners. Imagine you could saw out the lock rabbet with a coping saw blade. The cutter is the path the blade would follow. Then separate the sides into components through careful selection.