Creating Swept Surfaces Using a Circular Profile

You can create swept surfaces that use an implicit circular profile.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:

Create a 3D shape containing surfaces, sketches and curves.

See Also
About Swept Surfaces

Three guides

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by defining three guide curves.

  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select Three Guides.
  3. Select three guide curves.
  4. Optional: In the Spine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the first guide curve or center curve.

    If the plane normal to the spine intersects one of the guiding curves at different points, it is advised to use the closest point to the spine point for coupling.

  5. Click OK to create the swept surface.

    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.



Two guides and radius

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by defining two guide curves and radius of the circular profile.

  1. Click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select Two guides and radius.
  3. Select two guide curves.
  4. In the Radius box, enter the radius value or use the arrows to change the value.
    You can then choose between six possible solutions (among them, two new complete circular solutions) by clicking the Previous or Next button or entering a solution number in the Solution(s) box.
    Choosing a circular solution (radius=45)

  5. Optional: In the Spine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the first guide curve or center curve.

    If the plane normal to the spine intersects one of the guiding curves at different points, it is advised to use the closest point to the spine point for coupling.

  6. Click OK to create the swept surface.
    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.

Center and two angles

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by specifying a center and two angles.

  1. Click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select Center and two angles.
  3. In the CenterCurve box, select a curve.
  4. In the Reference curve box, select another curve.
  5. In the Angle 1 and Angle 2 boxes, enter the angle values to relimit the swept surface.


  6. Optional: In the Spine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the first guide curve or center curve.

    If the plane normal to the spine intersects one of the guiding curves at different points, it is advised to use the closest point to the spine point for coupling.

  7. Click OK to create the swept surface.
    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.

Center and radius

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by defining a center and radius of the circular profile.

  1. Click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select Center and radius.
  3. In the Center Curve box, select a curve.
  4. In the Radius box, enter the radius value or use the arrows to change the value.


  5. Optional: In theSpine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the first guide curve or center curve.

    If the plane normal to the spine intersects one of the guiding curves at different points, it is advised to use the closest point to the spine point for coupling.

  6. Click OK to create the swept surface.
    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.

Two guides and tangency surface

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by defining two guide curves and tangency surface. The tangency surface will be tangent to the swept surface.

Before you begin:
Note: Semi-circular arcs are not allowed in the tangent circle sweep.
  1. Click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select Two guides and tangency surface.
  3. Select two guide curves.
  4. In the Tangency surface box, select a reference surface to which the sweep is to be tangent.
    Depending on the geometry, there may be one or two solutions from which to choose. The solution displayed in red shows the active sweep.

  5. Optional: In the Spine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the first guide curve or center curve.

    If the plane normal to the spine intersects one of the guiding curves at different points, it is advised to use the closest point to the spine point for coupling.

  6. Click OK to create the swept surface.
    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.

One guide and tangency surface

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by defining a guide curve and tangency surface.

Before you begin:
Note: Semi-circular arcs are not allowed in the tangent circle sweep.
  1. Click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select One guide and tangency surface.
  3. In the Guide Curve 1 box, select a guide curve.
  4. In the Tangency surface box, select a reference surface to which the sweep is to be tangent.
  5. In the Radius box, enter the radius value or use the arrows to change the value.


  6. Select theTrim with tangency surface check box to perform a trim between the swept surface and the tangency surface. The portion of the tangency surface that is kept is chosen so that the final result is tangent.
    With Trim option selected.

    With Trim option cleared.

  7. Optional: In the Spine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the first guide curve or center curve.

    If the plane normal to the spine intersects one of the guiding curves at different points, it is advised to use the closest point to the spine point for coupling.

  8. Click OK to create the swept surface.
    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.

Limit curve and tangency surface

You can create a swept surface that uses a circular profile by defining limit curve and tangency surface.

Before you begin:
Note: Semi-circular arcs are not allowed in the tangent circle sweep.
  1. Click Sweep .
    The Swept Surface Definition dialog box appears.
  2. Click the Circle icon and in the Subtype list, select Limit curve and tangency surface.
  3. In the Limit curve box, select a limit curve.
  4. In the Tangent surface box, select a reference surface to which the sweep is to be tangent.
  5. In the Radius box, enter a radius value or use the arrows to change the value.
    You can relimit the swept surface by entering two angle values.

    Important:
    • The limit curve should lie on the input surface.
    • The angles are measured from the tangent plane.
  6. Optional: In the Spine box, select a spine to specify a spine different from the limit curve.
  7. Click OK to create the swept surface.
    The surface (identified as Sweep.xxx) is added to the tree.