Need serious help!

[Jrose]

Hey everyone,

 

I was wondering if someone can show me how to create this surface. It is curved as you can see and it needs to be a solid about 0.12 thick. This is the exact size that I need to create. I tried just about everything andI can't figure it out. If anyone can show me I appreciate it

 

Thanks

Surface.dwg

[ReMark]

Could you create a mesh using EDGESURF and then use the Mesh-to-Solid lisp routine found here at CT in the AutoLisp Archive?

[Jrose]

ReMark,

 

I see what your saying and i have tried that but for some reason everytime i do my lines get deleted. Am i missing a step here. Please advice. Thanks

[JD Mather]

Remark needs some 3D training. Forget the old edgesurf and the like commands. Simply Loft with Guides and Thicken. See the tutorials in my signature. If you want to preserve the original lines set delobj=0

 

Remark - when are you going to go through my tutorials and learn the modern AutoCAD surface tools?

[ReMark]

Smack down! JDM strikes again. The master of the put down. You da man.

[Jrose]

Remark needs some 3D training. Forget the old edgesurf and the like commands. Simply Loft with Guides and Thicken. See the tutorials in my signature. If you want to preserve the original lines set delobj=0

 

Remark - when are you going to go through my tutorials and learn the modern AutoCAD surface tools?

 

JDM,

 

I tried it and this is what it "Cannot loft a non-planar entity." Is there something else i can try. Please advice. Thanks

[shift1313]

It is very simple to do with all the lines you have. Follow what i wrote in the first attached image and you should get whats in the second image.

[Jrose]

It is very simple to do with all the lines you have. Follow what i wrote in the first attached image and you should get whats in the second image.

 

 

Shift1313,

 

I tried it but this is what came up.

 

Command: loft

Select cross sections in lofting order: Specify opposite corner: 1 found

Select cross sections in lofting order: 1 found, 2 total

Select cross sections in lofting order: 1 found, 3 total

Select cross sections in lofting order: 1 found, 4 total

Select cross sections in lofting order:

 

Enter an option [Guides/Path/Cross sections only] :

 

Which one do I select from here and what steps do i take next. Thanks Please advice.

[shift1313]

okay, do as follows

type LOFT

Select the lines i labeled as 1 and 2 then hit Enter

type the letter G

Select lines 3 and 4 and hit Enter

 

when you are lofting you are taking one line(#1) and stretching it out to line(#2). your guides(not needed in this case) are the lines labeled 3 and 4.

 

If you cant get this to work try again by typing LOFT, select line 1 then line 2, and then hit your enter key 3 times.

 

let me know if this works. I think what you did was select all 4 lines and that is not a valid setup for lofting. when i put (G)uides i should have specified to hit G for the guide option

[JD Mather]

Smack down! JDM strikes again. The master of the put down. You da man.

 

You have 6,600 plus posts, AutoCAD 2007, 2008, 2009 and now 2010 has had nurbs surfaces with easier use and additional functionality. That's 4 releases. I would think with your expertise you would want to use the improved tools when appropriate.

 

Don't consider my response a put-down. Consider it a nudge in the ribs to get that update training.

[Jrose]

okay, do as follows

type LOFT

Select the lines i labeled as 1 and 2 then hit Enter

type the letter G

Select lines 3 and 4 and hit Enter

 

when you are lofting you are taking one line(#1) and stretching it out to line(#2). your guides(not needed in this case) are the lines labeled 3 and 4.

 

If you cant get this to work try again by typing LOFT, select line 1 then line 2, and then hit your enter key 3 times.

 

let me know if this works. I think what you did was select all 4 lines and that is not a valid setup for lofting. when i put (G)uides i should have specified to hit G for the guide option

 

Shift1313,

 

I tried it. It worked, but now there is a problem. It won't give me a thickness. Please advice. Thanks

[shift1313]

type THICKEN in the command line.

Select your Surface

enter your value 0.12

press Enter

[Jrose]

type THICKEN in the command line.

Select your Surface

enter your value 0.12

press Enter

 

Shift1313,

 

Thanks Matt right. It took me a while, but it worked. You THA MAN! Thanks DUDE!

 

JR.

[shift1313]

glad it worked out. I would play around with lofts and sweeps using curves and lines to make surfaces. it will be a really powerful tool because you can thicken the surface or use it as a slice plane for a solid part. I dont typically model in acad but i used to model a lot of mesh surfaces and using loft and sweep are a million times better!!!

[ReMark]

Well said JDM.

 

Speaking of 2010, isn't there a new Thicken command that essentially converts a surface into a 3D solid with a specified thickness?

 

I do not spend as much time as I would like working in 3D. And when I am doing 3D it is mostly working with steel shapes for buildings and supports and fabricating receivers, storage tanks, reactors, piping and alike. I can probably count one hand the number of surfaces I've had to create. So I am less likely to venture into the other aspects of AutoCAD 3D than some of my esteemed colleagues here including yourself. Thank you for the well intentioned advice however.

 

By the way, only 21 posts of mine were CAD related. The remainder were just chat disguised as being CAD related. Have a sparkling day!

[nialb]

Remark - when are you going to go through my tutorials and learn the modern AutoCAD surface tools?

 

It would be really nice to be able to use the modern AutoCAD surface tools but some people, me included, do not have the funds to upgrade from our 2005 version of AutoCAD.

[JD Mather]

It would be really nice to be able to use the modern AutoCAD surface tools but some people, me included, do not have the funds to upgrade from our 2005 version of AutoCAD.

 

The original OP indicated use of version 2008. If you have a 2005 version question I would suggest a solution relative to that version. Post the 2005 question here. In some cases there might not be a suitable solution other than upgrading or purchasing some add-in.