How to create an internal chamfer to a square table leg

the way I create those is to draw a “cutter” shape that can be intersected with the table leg using Intersect Faces. Then erase the unneeded stuff. I’ve done at least one tutorial showing that. I’ll do some hunting.

1 Like

I don’t know what profile you attempted to use along what path, but I don’t think followme is the best tool for this job. As usual, Dave beat me to the reply with what is the more typical approach!

1 Like

Thanks for the response. I’ve been searching for what feels like hours, and all I can find is how to do external shapes and chamfers… surely this should be simple enough, to take a square and ‘Scoop out’ a part of the corner? It’s making me dizzy!
I have made the shape that it needs to be, and now all I need to do is to join it as an internal curve… Would love to see the tutorial you mention!

Thanks!

Thanks for your reply.

In this picture, you can see the blue path i’m trying to follow, with the face highlighted that needs to follow that path.

I haven’t tracked down the tutorial yet, but here’s a topic with some examples of how this is done on a cylinder. The same idea applies to your square leg.

1 Like

Follow Me just isn’t the right tool for the job.

I didn’t get to the old tutorial I was thinking of so I just made something new.

From left to right:

  1. Draw the profile of the “cutter” and place it in the right location.
  2. Use Push/Pullto extrude the “cutter” through the corner of the leg. I only did it for one corner to simplify the view but this cutter could be copied around the leg to hit the other three corners as well.
  3. Intersect the “cutter’s” faces with the faces of the leg. Erase the unneeded faces and edges.
  4. Erase the corner edge, correct the face orientation and soften edges as needed.

I used the same basic method to make the stopped chamfers on the stretchers of this hayrake table by Mike Pekovich.

and the stopped flutes on this newel post.

1 Like

As you may notice, the method Dave sketched creates a flat-bottomed flute. The ones I cited create a round-bottomed flute. So, choose the one that corresponds to your actual need!

1 Like

Amazing, thank you - I have some learning to do on how to position the cutter where I need it, because it’s going wherever it wants at the moment! I can see that this will do exactly what I’m after, so thank you so much!
I’ll report back when I’ve managed to do it - But I strongly advise that you don’t hold your breath while you wait in anticipation!..:stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

I can certainly see the use in this as well - maybe a little more advanced than I need at the moment? I don’t know, I shall but play! Thanks!

This is where guidelines created with the Tape Measure and Protractor tools comes in handy. I set out some guidelines to help me draw the cutter exactly where I wanted it so there was no need to move it into place.

And you’re quite welcome.

Not to belabor the point but the idea of drawing a cutter shape to intersect is a good one to get a handle on. The same idea was used on the legs for these old Italian side tables.

As well as on on the rooks and knights in this chess set.

And to cut the slots in the bell for the fan pulley supports on this finishing booth blower.

1 Like

That’s some seriously impressive work!
I might get to that level in about 20 years!

I can most certainly see the advantages , so all I need to do now is practice and set to mastering the technique…

Thanks again for your extremely prompt responses, and superb advice.

Ta-daa!

:tada:

My attempt at using your techniques has pretty much done the job. I know it could be better, but not bad for a first attempt!
Any particilar reason why I have those ‘lines’ going across at the base of the curved cut? I notice yours doesn’t have those, but when I try to delete them, it deletes the whole face…

Thanks again for all your help.

4 Likes

Very good.

Those lines are coming from where the ends of the arcs meet the vertical lines. This is normal. You can get rid of them by Clicking on them with the Eraser tool WHILE HOLDING the Ctrl key.

1 Like

Awesome, Thanks!

WOW looks nice for first timer . . Like it might even make one like it from real wood . . So do you have the skp file ? I would like to use it for measurements . .

I was able to made the flutes on the island’s columns only to find when rendering in Podium that the level of details was a) not visible on the render due resolution of output devices, and b) added to the SKU’s complexity to a point that pasting and moving was becoming totally unstable. In fact, I had to remove all kinds of detail levels throughout the drawing to make it manageable including reducing curve complexity on crown molding, base boards, etc.

That’s interesting. I’ve never run into that with Kerkythea nor ever read about anyone having to do that with other rendering apps. Does it just slow things way down in SketchUp with Podium?

Thanks - I’ve been tinkering with Sketchup for a while, but only just starting to really get into it.
Been trying to upload my model, but having all sorts of trouble with my computer. Although, my advice to you would be the same as I’ve received previously - create your own model, and ask for help as and when you need it.

4 Likes

Your model looks great though!
I’ve had to increase the size of my grooves in order for them to be visible in my designs, but other than that, my software renders everything a treat.

I have to be more clear. I didn’t have a problem with Podium. It was with SU. I was building all the sub-assemblies in separate files and then moving them into the kitchen when done. It was the cut and paste into the main file that was not working properly. The item would paste and when I attempted to position it, it would move, stop, move somewhere else, stop, move somewhere else. This would repeat a number of times and then disappear. The object just seemed to complicated for the memory I have in my MacBook Pro. When I reduced the object’s complexity it worked better. Not great, just better. Again, the rendering engine did not have a problem.