sweep a constant profile along a 3d path while setting the orientation at waypoints along that path

eric_rollins

Can anyone point me in the right direction for creating a constant profile feature that sweeps along a 3D path where I can adjust the orientation at several points along the path? The sweep function does not seem to have this flexibility. I could use the loft I guess, but then I have to create normal planes at each waypoint and then recreate the profile sketch at each one because I can't use derive to import the sketch more than once (even with versioning, as far as I can tell). Also, I can't have the profile sketch just copy/pasted because I will need to update it as I go so copies need to be "live".

bladec

I'd recommend either Super Derive to derive the same sketch multiple times or you can use the Transform Pattern feature to copy the sketch to a new location. Here is an example https://cad.onshape.com/documents/0c583f78cbb23aaa490174bf/v/00ebe8309f37d2707abc4234/e/98029e584845299241dfb654

Super Derive

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/cfef86ed4f9635531599a973/w/def12fa727cba59c54c7c45d/e/1ca336dd47d98dd00918c589

Transform Pattern

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6b982e3c0a039b6d40984f18/v/127c578ceb9bd1e98f7b982e/e/c8af103a5f3d2ff7ae610be1

S1mon

You can also turn one derived sketch into a surface and then transform/copy that body to the other locations. Flat surfaces or closed sketches both operate pretty much the same for lofting, etc.

EvanReese

@eric_rollins Use a ruled surface to make a reference for the sweep feature to use as a "face to lock".

In the Ruled Surface

• use "angle from direction"
• add vertex overrides where you want to change the angle
• check "use cubic interpolation" to make it smooth

In the Sweep

• change Profile Control to "Lock profile faces" and choose all of the faces of the ruled surface.

Here's an example I did recently of this.

Derek_Van_Allen_BD

@EvanReese thinking real hard about how I could simulate theoretical G force vectors on a curve to make an auto roller coaster script with this ruled surface approach as the basis. We've got some twisty ball track that's always been a bit of guesswork at figuring out the bank angles but it doesn't need to be.