Using end conditions within the loft command

tim_waldemer

Is there a way to get the surface loft commend to use both end conditions and guide rails at the same time, or am I missing the boat on this one?

tim_waldemer

Thanks Philip for the speedy reply.  I've been adding end conditions to lofts that contain guide rails for years in other cad packages.  Its important that the guide rail sketches (or edges) terminate normal to the sketch plane in all cases.  Without being able to add the end condition (along with the guide rails) you must carry the "guided" loft surface through the normality plane using the sketch (with normality lines to the plane within the sketch(s)), and then trim off (or split in Onshape) with the plane to get a normal (perpendicular) end condition with the plane.  Its a bummer that Onshape lofts don't support using end conditions and guide rails together.

philip_thomas

@tim_waldemer - great question and a very common one. No you cannot use end conditions AND guide curves. The reason is that they would conflict. You would be asking the loft to satisfy both an end condition (e.g. Curvature continuous) and at the same time follow a guide curve (which wouldn't be curvature continuous). It's not possible to satisfy both. I hope this helps you. 

tim_waldemer

Thanks Philip for the speedy reply.  I've been adding end conditions to lofts that contain guide rails for years in other cad packages.  Its important that the guide rail sketches (or edges) terminate normal to the sketch plane in all cases.  Without being able to add the end condition (along with the guide rails) you must carry the "guided" loft surface through the normality plane using the sketch (with normality lines to the plane within the sketch(s)), and then trim off (or split in Onshape) with the plane to get a normal (perpendicular) end condition with the plane.  Its a bummer that Onshape lofts don't support using end conditions and guide rails together.

philip_thomas

@tim_waldemer Are you perchance trying to describe a center-line loft with end conditions? Those are possible (but not currently supported). If that is what you are looking for, please submit an enhancement request

tim_waldemer

If can be a center line loft (like for a mirror symmetrical loft), or just lofting up to any plane or surface edge really.  I will submit an enhancement request.  Thanks!