Creating lofted solids and surfaces

Creates a three-dimensional solid or surface between two or more cross sections. Cross sections can be open or closed entities. Open cross sections create three-dimensional surfaces. Closed cross sections create three-dimensional solids or surfaces, depending on the specified mode.

Cross sections can be 2D polylines, lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, elliptical arcs, 2D splines, helices, traces, edges of entities, faces of a solid or surface, points of the first or last cross section, regions, and 2D solids.

Guides can be 2D polylines with a single segment, 3D polylines, lines, arcs, elliptical arcs, 2D and 3D splines, and edges of entities.

Paths can be 2D and 3D polylines, lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, elliptical arcs, 2D and 3D splines, helices, and edges of entities.

To create a lofted solid or surface    

   1   Do one of the following to choose Loft ():

    On the ribbon, choose Draw 3D > Loft (in Draw 3D Solids).

    On the menu, choose Draw > 3D Solids > Loft.

    On the Draw 3D Solids toolbar, click the Loft tool.

    Type loft and then press Enter.

   2   Select the cross sections in the order you want them to loft. You must select at least two cross sections.

   3   If desired, choose Point to taper the loft entity. Select the taper point on a cross section, then press Enter.

   4   If desired, choose Join multiple edges to create a cross section from edges. Select the edges, which must share start and end points, to be considered as a cross section. When done selecting edges, press Enter.

   5   If needed, choose Mode to change whether a three-dimensional solid or surface is created, then press enter.

   6   Press Enter to continue.

   7   Choose one of the following:

    Guides Creates the loft entity using guide curves which  help shape the entity. Select the guide curves for the loft entity. Guide curves must intersect each cross section and begin and end at the first and last cross section. You can also combine multiple edges to form a guide.

    Path Creates the loft entity along a path. Select the path for the lofted entity. The path must intersect the solid or surface on all planes.

    Cross sections only Creates the loft entity between the cross sections without using guides or paths.

    Settings   Opens the Loft Settings dialog box to specify various settings.