Sweeping a Profile along a Path

In this Task

• The segments of the path will be joined using the Join Polyline > Auto Join tool.
• A new profile in the form of a small circle will be drawn somewhere in the workspace.
• This profile will be swept along the path created by the modified profile created in the previous task.
• The radius of the circle will be changed and used again to sweep along the profile created by the cushion edge.

Associated Tasks

• Using the Edit tool to change the radius of a circle.
• Changing the line width of the profile.
• Locking a layer.

Before you Start

• View is set to Isometric South East; Workplane is set to Plane by World.
• The current layer is Profile.
• Layer Model is switched off.

Take Note

• When using the Student_3D template, all 2D objects such as lines, circles etc are drawn on the Profile layer, irrespective of the currently activated layer. Similarly, all 3D objects will be drawn on the Model layer, irrespective of the currently activated layer.
• The small circle which is used as the profile to be swept along a path can be deleted after the Sweep function is completed.

Layer Control

Using either the Layer drop down or the Design Director, switch off the Model layer, and activate the Profile layer current.

Auto Join Polyline

Ribbon : Modify | 2D Modifications | Join Polyline

Default Menu : Modify | Join Polyline

Right click to select Auto Join option or select from status bar at the base of the editor.

This tool allows connected but not overlapping line segments to be joined by their adjacent vertices.By activating the Auto Joinoption, the first segment in the chain can be selected and all connected segments will automatically be joined, providing they are connected by a vertex, not an intersection (overlap)The 2D/3D option allows lines which are connected but which lie in a different plane to be joined.

Make sure the view is set to Isometric South East and the Workplane is set to Plane by World.

Select the Join Polyline tool from the menu options above, then select the Delete Original Objects, Auto Join and 2D/3D options shown below.

Selecting the Join Polyline options

At the prompt > Select the first entity for join, select the segment shown below.

Use the Select tool and select the newly created profile to verify that it is a continual curve. The selected curve should be replaced onto the Profile layer. Use either the Layer drop down or the Design Director to do this.

New profile created; profile replaced onto Profile layer

Press ESC to discard the Selector Shell.

Select the Circle Center and Point tool from the Sketch menu panel and draw a circle with a radius of 20 somewhere near the newly created profile, shown below.

Circle with a radius of 20 drawn near the profile

Locking a Layer

Design Director | Lock

Status Bar | Lock

A layer can be locked in the Design Director, allowing the layer in the editor to be viewed but not edited. This is useful when working on another layer as the objects on the unlocked layer can be selected and modified while the objects on a locked layer provide a visual context.

Open the Design Director and activate Profile as the current layer.

Switch on the Visible option for the Model layer, then select the lock option shown below.

Activating the ‘Profile’layer as current ; Locking the ‘Model‘ layer

This allows the Model layer to be viewed, but objects on this layer are locked and cannot be selected or modified.

Zoom in to the lower corner of the model, close to where the circle has been drawn.

Rail Sweep

Ribbon | Draw | Draw 3D | Rail Sweep

Default : Draw | 3D Object | 3D Profile Based | Rail Sweep

Palette : 3D Model | 3D Object | Rail Sweep

Sweeps an open or closed 2D profile along a predetermined path defined by another 2D profile.The profile and path do not have to lie in the same plane.The extruded profile can be tapered or twisted.

The profile created in the previous task will be used as a path along which to sweep a profile. This will produce a ‘piping’ effect on the edge of the chair created by the modified profile, similar to the illustration below.

Newly modified profile to form a sweep path

Select the Rail Sweep tool from the menu options above then at the prompt > Select an entity to sweep, select the new circle profile.

At the prompt > Select an entity for the sweep path, select the profile, shown below.

Selecting the profile as the sweep path

The result is shown below. The new sweep object is shown in a different color for illustrative clarity only.

Circle profile swept along path created by joined profile

Edit Tool

Right click in the editor

This editing tool can be used to modify the radius of a circle.

In this task, the circle radius will be reduced so the profile can be swept along the path of the profile of the front rectangle, shown below.

Select the circle, then right click and select the Edit tool. TAB to the radius field and input a radius of 10.

Unlock the Model layer so the cushion profile can be used.

Use the Sweep tool to sweep the circle profile around the front profile of the cushion, shown below.

Smaller circle swept along profile of front rectangle

The result should be similar to the illustration below left. The illustration below right is shown rendered.

 

Result of the profile swept along a path

TAKE NOTE

The circle which was drawn to create the sweep object can be deleted at the end of this task.