Problems getting loft guides to work

robert_gifford245

I am new to Onshape.  It's a great tool and I have accomplished a lot so far.  Lofts have been a big challenge for me. I am unable to get loft guides to work with my model.  I am using multiple sketches and planes which some what work, but has diminishing returns.  I really want guides to work as it seems to be a much more simple approach.  I have attempted to use the edges of my profile drawing and bridging curves, but it is not accepted.  After a lot of frustration I gave up.  I really do want to learn the proper way and would love some input.

Link to my model: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/ba118cf41eb8627dbbef07f9/w/eefb08bac76327d0b8814d0a/e/e2b7f7ca6f07bfa18f397d51

MichaelPascoe

Welcome to Onshape @robert_gifford245!

Lofts can be tricky. They require guides to be perfectly in contact with the profiles. Also, the guides must flow continuously and can't be "kinked". Think of lofts like splines, the less control point restrictions you place on the loft, the smoother results you will get.

I made a few other changes as well:

• When using reference images, place them in their own sketch so that your references don't interfere with your sketches. This way you can easily turn their visibility on and off independently of the other sketches.
• The sketch orientations now align with the view cube in the top right corner of the screen. This helps keep things easy to understand.

Here is one way to loft the nose of your rocket using a guided loft:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/aabd413c173c095f70ce3f87/w/7e8e4ef7c16a21726e58989b/e/fa3082a95d0b85d3acb34173?renderMode=0&tangentEdgeStyle=2&uiState=648a07c238552e7de3800644

robert_gifford245

Thank you Michael, that is exactly the type of solution I was hoping for.

MichaelPascoe

Welcome to Onshape @robert_gifford245!

Lofts can be tricky. They require guides to be perfectly in contact with the profiles. Also, the guides must flow continuously and can't be "kinked". Think of lofts like splines, the less control point restrictions you place on the loft, the smoother results you will get.

I made a few other changes as well:

• When using reference images, place them in their own sketch so that your references don't interfere with your sketches. This way you can easily turn their visibility on and off independently of the other sketches.
• The sketch orientations now align with the view cube in the top right corner of the screen. This helps keep things easy to understand.

Here is one way to loft the nose of your rocket using a guided loft:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/aabd413c173c095f70ce3f87/w/7e8e4ef7c16a21726e58989b/e/fa3082a95d0b85d3acb34173?renderMode=0&tangentEdgeStyle=2&uiState=648a07c238552e7de3800644

robert_gifford245

Thank you Michael, that is exactly the type of solution I was hoping for.