Multi-path branching sweep

[MPI-crusher]

I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to make a 3D sweep that follows a branching pathway. Easiest real-world analog would be modeling a saguaro cactus. Essentially I would like to sweep a circle straight to make a cylinder, but also have the same cross section go branch off perpendicular and then go on to follow a different path. Is this possible to do?

Using Inventor 8

Thanks for any help!

[ReMark]

I tried to do this using AC 2007 but had no luck. The user is prompted for a path (a single path). As long as that path is a continuous polyline with multiple bends it will follow it. But if you want to branch away from the main path you have to sweep again, and again and..... Maybe I'm not following you?

[MPI-crusher]

No, you're following me okay, I was just hoping there might be some elusive way of doing this without needing multiple sweeps. I guess it's just the engineer in me trying to over-simplify everything. I've got a 3D sketch that could accurately be called a maze, and was wanting to sweep the path(s) so that it was easier to see and distinguish between the different branches as I rotate the view around. I need to keep the 3D sketch as one sketch though, so I can't really have all the multiple sketches that would be needed for each individual sweep. I guess I'll just have to squint, thanks for the verification though!

[ReMark]

You don't need multiple sketches just multiple paths. Unfortunately some paths may overlap.

[JD Mather]

Using Inventor 8

There is an Inventor forum here. You might try zipping and attach what you have so far.

[Tiger]

I've moved your thread here in the hopes that it will provide a more satisfying answer :)