Generator Feature: Loft Shape

Function

Loft creates a Shell by connecting section profiles (Wire, Edge).  More than two profiles must be selected in a sequence.  A closed Wire or Edge can be used to create a Solid using the Solid option.

Call

Geometry > Generator Feature > Loft

Select Section Profiles

Select section profiles to which a Loft operation will be applied. Here, the outcome shape is dependent on Ordering Method.
 

Ordering Method

Selection

The lofted shape is created by connecting Section Profiles in the order of selection. Therefore, it is necessary to select them one by one.

Creation

The lofted shape is created by connecting Section Profiles in the order of creation. User can select multiple profiles at once.

Coordinate System

The lofted shape is created by connecting Section Profiles according to  specified coordinate system. User can select multiple profiles at once.

Coordinate
Select the coordinate system and specify the priority order of axes. In order to determine the position of profiles, user needs to specify Base Point of Profile. The Base Point is based on profile's Bounding Box.

<Loft>

Vector

The lofted shape is created by connecting Section Profiles in the direction defined by 2 points vector. The coordinates of 2 points can be specified by manual input or using Snap. Base Point of Profile is also similarly applicable in Vector Ordering Method.
 

Name

Enter the name of a Shape to be created.

Solid

This option is used to create a Solid using a closed Wire or Edge.  Using the option with an open profile will not result in an error, but an improper shape may be created.
 

Straight

This option creates a shell by joining each selected section profile in straight lines rather than curved lines.

Notes

To make solid, the first and last profiles must be closed and planar. In order do make Solid, user must create top and bottom faces separately and sew each faces together into a Solid using Main Menu>Surface>Sew.

Often, result shape may become twisted because curve directions of each profile is reversed.  In this case, user can manually change the curve direction using Main Menu>Geometry>Curve>Reverse Curve.