See the video-tip - use the LOFT command to create a 3D solid between two irregular shapes, incl. e.g. a transition between a circular and rectangular profile (e.g. circle-rectangle transition for ventilation ducts).
You can use 2 or more 2D profiles of any shape to create a 3D surface or closed (watertight) solid. The command creates a transition shape between the specified profiles. A profile can be virtually anything - a 2D polyline, 2D solid, 2D spline, arc, circle, an edge or face of a 3D solid, ellipse, spiral, line, surface, region, trace or even a point (only the first or last profile).
You can also specify the normal (method of lofting) on each profile.
If the LOFTNORMALS variable is set to 1 (smooth fit), you can use the arrow nodes on each profile to specify the continuity (G0, G1, G2) and bulge of the shape transition for that profile. The special mode "Draft angle" (see the main options node) allows you to specify the draft angle of the transition shape on the specified profile:
You can then create a shell (e.g. a pool body) from the resulting solid. Just specify (by picking with Ctrl) the area that will be removed from the original solid - before the shell walls are thickened - i.e. where the solid will be "opened". If you want to open the shell in more than one place, select more faces. Then you just need to specify the shell thickness.
Have we helped you? If you want to support the CAD Forum web service, consider buying one of our CAD applications, or our custom software development offerings, or donating via PayPal (see above).
You may also add a link to your web - like this "fan" link:
Featuring: Add .CIT raster format support to AutoCAD and Map and Civil 3D CITin
Please use these tips at your own risk. Arkance Systems is not responsible for possible problems that may occur as a result of using any of these tips.