Creating Swept Surfaces

You can create a swept surface by joining several profile curves. Guides can be selected and the profiles are dragged along the guides. A sliding surface can be defined.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open a 3D shape containing appropriate geometry:
  • curves as guide,
  • curves as profile(s),
  • curves as 2nd guide, and
  • surface(s) as sliding surface.
See Also
Sweep Dialog Box

Create a Swept Surface Using Multi Sections Type

You can create a swept surface through a number of profile curves without a guide curve.

  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Sweep .
  2. Set Multi Sections.
  3. Select curves as profiles.


  4. Click Apply.


  5. Switch to the Approximation tab. In the Profile Segmentationlist, select All and click Apply.
    The segmentation of all profiles is taken into account for the segmentation of the sweep. In most cases, the profiles are best fitted with this option.

  6. Toggle between the different Shape options on the Options tab to define the transition type between the individual profiles.
    Linear Shape

    Local Shape

    Smooth Shape

    Global Shape

Create a Swept Surface Using Guide + Profile Type

You can create a swept surface using guide(s) und profile curve(s).

  1. In the Type list, select Guide + Profile.
  2. Select curves as profile(s) and guide.
    The moving frame is displayed at the guide. It determines a local coordinate system which is moved along the guide. The profile is attached to the moving frame and keeps it orientation while the moving frame moves along the guide.

  3. Switch to the Moving Frame tab. Accept the default setting Radial to Guide for the moving frame type and click Apply.


  4. Toggle between the different Type options.
    Radial to Guide

    Parallel to Plane

    2nd Curve

    Normal to Surface

Create a Swept Surface Using Sliding Type

You can create a swept surface using guide(s), profile curve(s), and sliding surface(s).

  1. In the Type list, select Sliding.
  2. Select curves as profile(s) and guide, and surface(s) as sliding surface.


  3. Accept the default setting Ajust to Profile or Adjust to Guide to create the sweep adjusted to the profile or guide if there is a gap between profile and guide. Click Apply.
    Ajust to Profile

    Adjust to Guide

  4. Select Adjust to Guide. Select Direction option to align the sweep on the sliding surface by defining a vector direction. Click right mouse button, select Z Axis, and click Apply.