Creating a Swept Surface

You can create a swept surface by dragging one or two profiles (Gen) along one or two guides (Rail), depending on the number of selected input curves.

Before you begin: Create a 3D Shape containing curves or surface edges running perpendicular to each other.
See Also
About Creating Surfaces from Curves
About Approximation

Context: To distinguish Rail (guides) and Gen curves (profiles), the following colors are used in the images:

Rail A
Rail B
Gen A
Gen B

  1. Select two perpendicular curves forming an L shape.


  2. From the Surfacing section of the action bar, click OmniSurf .
    A swept surface type Perpendicular Curves (2) is created.

  3. Select two perpendicular curves forming an X shape.

    A swept surface type Perpendicular Curves (2) is created along the complete length of both rail and gen curves.

    In this case, you cannot modify continuities.

  4. Click Convert to 4 Curves.
    The swept surface type Perpendicular Curves (2) is converted to Perpendicular Curves (4). Four curves approximated from the swept surfaces edges are created and added to the tree. They are used as rail and gen curves at which you can modify the continuities.

    Note: You cannot restore a converted Perpendicular Curves (4) feature to Perpendicular Curves (2) surface type.
  5. Undo the last step and convert the X case to a T case.
    1. From the list, select one of the following T cases:
    OptionDescription
    T1
    T2
    T3
    T4
    Depending on the choice, the swept surface is created along the complete length of the rail or gen curve until the intersection point with the other curve. You can modify the continuity either at the gen or at the rail curve.
  6. Click Convert to H.
    The swept surface type Perpendicular Curves (2) T4 case is converted to Perpendicular Curves (3). An additional curve used as Rail B is created and added to the tree.

    Notes:
    • You cannot restore a converted Perpendicular Curves (3) feature to Perpendicular Curves (2) surface type.
    • Converting the Perpendicular Curves (2) T1 case creates an additional curve used as Gen B.

  7. Undo the last step and convert a T case to an L case.
    1. From the list, select one of the following L cases:
    OptionDescription
    L1
    L2
    L3
    L4
    Depending on the choice, the swept surface is created in one of the quadrants of the X shape.

    You can modify continuities at both rail and gen curves.