How Many Guides does it take?

[HomeMadeSin]

Do you remember the commercial where the owl tries to figure out how long it takes to get to the core of a lollipop? Well, how many identical guides does it take for SW to follow in a lofting feature?

Those that saw my post on variable fillet can see the shape I'm trying to make. I keep coming back to the proper way to draw my shape is with lofting. Each x-section is varied in size, but all share a common distance from a centerline. However, when lofted, the ID is not consistent. When you apply 1, 2 or more guides (arcs centered and normal to the centerline), it gets better, but not exact. Why is a guide curve/line taken more as a suggestion than the hardline?

 

[SBaugh]

Have you tried adding more Profiles? Adding more profiles help control the over all look of the loft. I haven't seen what it is your trying to make. I usually only about 4 guide lines depending on the way I set up my profiles.

You can send it to me if you like. my email is on my webpage.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help

 

[HomeMadeSin]

I'll send you the file. I see your company is a SW VAR and I appreciate your willingness to look at it, but I must warn you that several entities (SW, SE and IV VAR's) within the mid-range CAD genre have yet to do it. It isn't that difficult, it is just that the controls required to do it right only come with Pro/E and higher as far as I can tell.

As far as adding more profiles, the question would then switch to 'how many profiles do you need'? Pro/E only needs 2, btw.

 

[TheTick]

I'd be willing to take a look at this. I have experience with advanced surface modeling in UG and Pro/E, so I am aware of the limitations you are talking about.

See contact info in my profile. Please don't send attachments until I know how big they are.

If the ladies don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

 

[HomeMadeSin]

TheTick: looks like the file is 1Mb, from the e-mail I sent SBaugh.

I tried Pro/E Wildfire foundation package, and while I found it to have more horsepower, it didn't have much to offer for lofting. I was told that I needed to get the surfacing module. Combine that with how far behind it is in easy interface, and I canned it. Inventor lacks big time and SolidEdge came the closest.

 

[TheTick]

1MB is fine to send.

Without having looked at the file yet, it's hard to say what's possible. There may still be some workaround possibilities.

 

[HomeMadeSin]

I know there are work-arounds, which is why I switched to SW from IV. It seems SW is the most aggressive in terms of getting the program where is should be.

The problem with workarounds is that they can clutter upa design and affect things if you make a change.

In my case, I am converting hand-drawn (pencil and vellum) drawings to 3D models. To do it right, I want to capture as much of the design intent as possible, while figuring out what is true and what is measured. The computer doesn't like "close".

That however, it independant of the 3D software I use. However, it seems that proper lofting is not high on the list to develop further. At least that is what happened with Inventor - they went with wire harness features and such. at least with SE, I could sweep with multiple profiles, even though a radial loft was less than perfect, just like the others.

 

[TheTick]

Actually, a lot of the workarounds I use in SW originated from my days on Pro/E. Mostly, it has to do with the overall model structure. I rely heavily on master control line or "skeleton" sketches (and sometimes surfaces). This makes for a model that is robust enough to handle some pretty extreme changes without totally rebuilding.

As far as surface modeling goes, using control line sketches makes it easier to break a model into multiple smaller, more easily controlled features which are still controlled by their master(s).

 

[sirmick]

Can I take a look at it as well? My email is mdewolfe@nidekmedical.com.

 

[mmurphy50]

Have tried to pick your curves differently? The cures you are currently picking a x-sections pick as guides and what you are currently using as guides use as sections.

I do a lot of surfacing and this will usually work.