×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Lofting problem
2

Lofting problem

Lofting problem

(OP)
Hi all,
I am having difficulty in lofting 2 sketches together that have ofset planes of 130mm appart. Sketch 1 is an octagon of 170mm sides, sketch 2 is a square of 165mm sides.
PROBLEM:
When i loft, the loft twists on me, I want the 45deg angled
lines to loft into the corners of the square. I kind of remember doing this once before, and I had to split the entity (octagon) to make this happen. Am i correct into thinking this, if so I can't remember how this is done..
Any help would be most apreciated...
Regards,
Ciaran

RE: Lofting problem

You will need to add Guide Curves ... check the Help files.

Adding small chamfers to the corners of the square, so that you have "matching" points/faces, may also help.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Lofting problem

Other then adding guide curves, the more profiles you add the better they will flow together and not twist as well as be a smoother transition.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Lofting problem

I'd be willing to bet that you can solve your problem by splitting one side of your square at the midpoint.  Edit the sketch of the square.  Select a side of the square and right-mouse for the "split entities" command.  When you go to Loft, just move the guide point to the midpoint split.  That should clear up your peskey twisty loft.

Hope that is at least moderately helpful.

RE: Lofting problem

Problem I have seen when you don't use a guide curve is it works for one side but not hte other. Guide curves are used solely for control and its a benefit to the users. If don't use one that's your choice, but they are not that hard to create and are a benefit in many ways.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Lofting problem

Using a series of 3D sketches, you can connect points of both profiles directly to one another with straight lines--which is the way I would do it.  You can loft only a quarter of your profiles if they're symmetrical, then mirror the resulting body to fill it in and save time (fewer guide curves needed).

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Lofting problem

The only thing I hate about that is the line you get in between the bodies. To avoid that I just bring the guide curves through, and if more profiles are need I just copy/mirror them as needed (only if symmetrical).

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Lofting problem

2
Wow.  You guys sure like extra work.

In you loft, right click the connector (the line with the blue dots) and choose "show all connectors".  Now drag them where you want 'em.

Works in SW06.  Can't imagine it wouldn't in SW07.

-b

RE: Lofting problem

Doh ... I forgot about that 'trick'.
Thanks for the reminder -b.

cheers
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to find answers ... FAQ559-1091

RE: Lofting problem

Me too!  That's what you get for learning SolidWorks back in 1997--antique methods.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe trumps reason.

RE: Lofting problem

I'm in Jeff's boat for this one.
Nice tip -b !!

Remember...
       "If you don't use your head,            
                   your going to have to use your feet."

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources