Extruding from a path

[Orbit]

I am trying to extrude from a polyline with a figure made also with polyline. For unknown reasons that is not possible.

Any inputs?


PS. Thank you for answering to my question in the rendering topic. It was a great help and looking for a demo to see how is working.

[superjari]

When extruding, you should first make a region, with the region command...

[Orbit]

Can you give more details on the mentionated command?

[superjari]

When you want to extrude something, the object you want to extrude needs to be a region, so when something consist only of (for instance) lines, you need to type the 'region' command, than select the lines that are a region and confirm. Afterwards you can extrude...

[Orbit]

It was execute it that way but still no succesful result. I am wondering what is going wrong.

[superjari]

The region should be closed, further I believe arcs cannot be extruded...

[Mr T]

Make sure you have -

A closed polyline or circle, box etc

The shape will not 'self intersect' or clash when it's flowing along the path

The path is a polyline

You have at least three lines visible on your command line, to see
full instructions and errors.

Nick

PS post up the object and desired path in a file or Pik and we'll help
further if req'd

Design & Technology Teacher,
Grangemouth High,
Scotland.
www.autocadzone.com

[Orbit]

I have tried with region command and each time is telling me> 0 regions created.
How can I post the draw here?

Specify height of extrusion or [Path]: p
Select extrusion path:
Profile and path are tangential.
Unable to extrude the selected object.

That is what is say it.

[superjari]

The path is a polyline


The line does not have to be a polyline, a normal line or cut circle will do just fine, only it needs to be 1 line...

[Orbit]

I am in 3D trying to draw a door frame. That is why I am using polylines.

In fact there are 2 different profiles. Both are made with polyline. The base of the doorframe is placed at the end of the polyline, from where I am trying to extrude it along the polyline that is a simple door.

I do not know how explicit I made my self but is so simple and annoying that task.

[CADTutor]

Orbit

the "Profile and Path are tangential" error occurs when both the profile and path lie in the same plane. In order to extrude a closed polyline shape along a path, the two must be perpendicular. You must change the UCS when drawing either the path or the profile to achieve this.

This is the cause of your problem. You do not need to create a region, you can extrude any closed shape along a path, even a spline but it must be properly closed, not just joined end-to-end.

[Orbit]

Thank you all for the help and taken time. I solved my problem and Mr. CadTutor was right. I change the UCS when drawing the other profile and there was no need for region.

All your answers helped me on other area as well, so there is no waste of time answering to someone.

Thank you

[CADTutor]

Orbit

Result!

Thanks for getting back to us - glad to be of help :D

Hope you'll stick around.

[Orbit]

Of course I will stick around. That is the best CAD forum available at this time.
There are so many helpful and professional answers and getting to learn so much even from past submited questions.

A great community to be part of it and I am happy I found it. :D

[Mr T]

Lets clear up some facts.

REGION is Surfaces and not SOLIDS.

Extrude is for SOLIDS not surfaces

The object must be closed, to then be extruded

The path and object do not have to be perpindicular
to be extruded. As long as the path does not self intersect.

You do not have to change the UCS to extrude something.

Without a selected path EXTRUDE will extrude in the Current UCS
Z direction.

An Example

Draw the objects/extrusion as below, from my command line.
====================================
Command: _line Specify first point:
Specify next point or [Undo]: @0,20,50

Specify next point or [Undo]:

Command: extrude

Current wire frame density: ISOLINES=4
Select objects: 1 found

Select objects:

Specify height of extrusion or [Path]: p
Select extrusion path:

Result
http://www.eezylearn.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/extrude.png [/img]

[Mr T]

The path is a polyline


The line does not have to be a polyline, a normal line or cut circle will do just fine, only it needs to be 1 line...

Wrong, if you are using 2000i or 2000.

It should be a polyline, circle, box or polygon that is
closed. Check if something is closed by checking with
the PROPERTIES dialogue/docker. Ctrl+1

Nick

[superjari]

I think you're talking about the object that is being extruded, or just because I use 2002, but I can extrude along a path that is NOT closed and ISN'T a polyline...

[CADTutor]

Lets clear up some facts.

OK, the path and object do not have to be perpendicular but they absolutely cannot be coplanar. And this is the problem that Orbit was having. In his particular case, the profile and path needed to be perpendicular but generally the two can be at almost any angle (I haven't tested for a minimum angle). Obviously, self intesection is also not possible but this was not the problem Orbit was having.

Extrusion along a path does seem to cause confusion for new users. Perhaps, Mr.T could provide us with an Extrusion tutorial on his excellent web site.

[Mr T]

okay, PATHS do not have to be polylines

I will endeavour to add a wee tutorial for extrusions.
In the Xmas hols probably.

Nick

[superjari]

Looking forward to it 8)

[Jabba]

As well as the REGION command, the profile you are trying to extrude can also be a closed Polyline. It is important that you use 'C' to close the Polyline.

[Mr T]

Or you can select the object then use the PROPERTIES docker to change it to closed. Dockers first started in COrelDRAW, my other fav program.

Also the properties is great to find out all sorts of info and to change things such as a cirlces radius or to easily change Z values of vertexs etc.

nick