sweep tool - using a partial path

IsoTherm

Greetings,
I have a path, defined by a 3d spline, and a profile on a sketch at the start end of the path. The profile is two concentric circles. I want to sweep two times; the first time I want to extrude (add) for only a short section of the path, the second time I want to cut out the center hole for the entire length of the path. Is there a way to do this using the same 3d Spline?
Thanks
Isotherm

TimRice

Since sketches, splines, and other features are not consumed in features you can reuse them as many times as you would like. For this specific example if you can make the document public and share the url here many people would be happy to help walk you through it!

IsoTherm

I get that I can use the same 3d spline as a tool for multiple purposes, what I want to know is, can I use just a part of one with the sweep tool? For example, if the spline is 4" long, but I only want the extruded sweep to travel along the the first 1".

billy2

no, I least I don't think so.

So here's a partial of a curve:


Using the wrong starting circle:


Using a proper starting circle:



So possibly the correct answer to your question is both yes & no.

billy2

After re-reading your question, I believe you need to split your curve, define a normal plane at split, then sweep in one direction, then do it again for the second direction. Sweep doesn't have a 2nd direction.

Using the same curve twice won't work because sweep uses the entire path, not a partial of the part where the profile exists.

billy2

OK, so you can put the profile anywhere along the path:


Just create a normal plane along your path and that'll work.

philip_thomas

Looks like Loft with Path does the auto-trim for you


https://cad.onshape.com/documents/7d1bc5d056ac715a7190c886/w/66663949e9516193efa40c84/e/adc1d1b4518ac63dea3b56ea