Creating 3D Solids by Sweeping 2D Entities Along a Path

The Sweep command lets you creates unique solid primitives or surfaces by sweeping existing two-dimensional entities along a path.

You can sweep the following entities:

• Splines, Polylines, and Lines
• 2D Solids
• Arcs and Circles
• Ellipses and elliptical Arcs
• Regions
• Trace

Note: The entities to sweep can be in any arrangement, for example, adjacent or nested.

You can use as path the following entities:

• Splines, open Polylines, and Lines
• Helix
• Arcs and Circles
• Ellipses and elliptical Arcs
• Any closed curve

Note: Sweeping entities along closed curves as paths creates solid objects, while sweeping entities along lines or open boundaries creates surfaces.

To create a solid or surface by sweeping an object along a path:

1. Click Solids > Draw > Sweep (or type Sweep).
2. Optionally, use the Type option to specify whether to create a surface or a solid.
3. Select the entities to sweep and press Enter.

   Note: You can specify one or more entities in any arrangement (adjacent, nested entities).

4. Select the entities which determine the sweep path.
5. - or -
6. Use Alignment, Base point, Scale, and Twist to specify options for sweeping and then select the entities which determine the sweep path:
   • Alignment: Unless you determine otherwise, the entities to be swept are aligned perpendicular to the path.
   • Base Point: Specifies a base point for the entities to be swept. Scaling is applied from the startpoint to the endpoint of the path.
   • Scale: Specifies a scale factor for the entities to be swept. Optionally, you can use the Reference option to scale the specified entities based on the specified reference length.
   • Twist: Sets a twist angle for the for the entities to be swept along the total length of the path. Optionally, you can use the Bank option to allow the entity to sweep to rotate along the sweep path.

Access

Command: Sweep

Menu: Solids > Draw > Sweep