Creates a surface by sweeping a cross sectional profile curve along a second path called extrusion path.
How to use
1. Click the Pipe icon or choose the Tools > Surfaces > Pipe command.
2. The program console prompts Pick profile curve.
3. Pick the curve you want to be swept from any view. Once picked, the curve turns green.
4. The program console prompts Pick extrusion path curve.
5. Pick the curve you want use as the path curve from any view.
Options
Profile curve
To change the cross sectional profile curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on and pick another profile curve in the scene. The pipe surface will automatically be modified.
Path curve
To change the extrusion path.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on and pick another extrusion path in the scene. The pipe surface will automatically be modified.
Align to
To specify position of the extruded surface in reference to the cross sectional curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on to specify one of the following options: Profile start, Profile end, Barycenter, Origin.
Accuracy
To control the number of points on the surface along the extrusion direction. This parameter does not affect the parametric surface but only the NURBS Surface that is created when you use the NURBS Surface Editing command or you collapse the Construction Tree.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have the following options:
Point factor: the number of points is equal to the number of points of the extrusion curve multiplied by the number specified by the Point factor value (which you can set either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter).
Points number: the number of points is equal to the number specified by the Points number value (which you can set either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter).
Global 3D tol: the number of points is calculated so that the surface does not deviate from the extrusion curve more than the global 3D tolerance (see Surface modeling tolerance in the Units section of the program Preferences).
User 3D tol: the number of points is calculated so that the surface does not deviate from the extrusion curve more than the value specified by the User 3D tol. value (which you can set either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter).
Options
To invert the profile normal.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Invert profile normal check button on.
See also:
Extrude to create a surface by extruding a cross sectional profile along a specified direction.
Loft to create a surface by sweeping two or more profile curves along a path.
Birail to create a surface by sweeping a profile curve along two path curves or rails.