Having trouble with cylindrical shapes

[Scot808]

I'm new to Solidworks and CAD in general and am having trouble with cylinders. I am trying to draw a cylindrical shape (like a piece of solid round bar). What I want to do is draw a cylinder and cut holes on various sides, some all the way through the cylinder, some from the inside to the surface, and some from the surface inwards a specified amount.

I started by sketching a circle, then extrude to length. It usually ends up where there are two planes through the center of the cylinder. Then, I sketched the holes I want to cut on one of these planes. I can make a cut from the inside out, but can't figure out how to make a cut from the outside in, without going all the way through to the plane.

I have discovered that I can create a new plane and this allows me to draw and cut holes at various angles, i.e. not only along the two intersecting planes. However, I still can't figure out how to make cuts from the outside surface inwards.

I also can't figure out if you can create a plane tangent to the outside surface of the cylinder. So far, I've only been able to create the plane referenced to an already existing plane.

I hope this makes sense and that someone can assist.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ramiro]

You need to make an offset parallel plane to one of the ones that you already have. To do this, click new plane, click on a plane that you want to offset, and click on distance. Make the distance slightly longer than the radius of the cylinder to make sure you dont leave a piece of the solid behind when you make the extruded cut. The plane should be facing the curved wall of the cylinder, not the flat ends. Now you can make a sketch on that plane and extrude it towards the cylinder for the amount of distance needed. Making a draft on the extruded cut or making a loft cut with this plane may also be useful.