Sweep Surface

Introduction

This topic will explain the Sweep Surface function, and the options found in it. This topic will also describe where to find the function, provide quick steps and an example on how to use it, and provide links to related topics.

The Sweep Surface Function

The Sweep function is used to create a surface by sweeping a wireframe chain (profile curve) along another wireframe chain (sweep path). Note that the profile curve does not require any special orientation or location as it is automatically moved to the sweep path based on the selected attachment point and chain direction.

 

 

 

Tip: In general, the sweep path should  be smooth, meaning it doesn't contain any sharp corners, which may cause unexpected results. (If the sweep function fails due to a sharp corner, the software automatically recreates the sweep path so the function doesn't fail.) Adding a small radius to sharp corners can help you obtain the expected result.

To open Sweep Surface:

 

  • In the Surfaces group, of the Create 3D tab, click Sweep Surface.

 

The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

  • Preview - Select the check box to enable the CAD preview, which displays what the result will be before you create it. Once all geometry is selected, the preview is shown.
    Preview - Clear the check box to turn off the CAD preview.

 

Attachment Point

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
The list box will list the entity currently selected for the function.

 

Sweep Profile

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the selected chain.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

 

Sweep Path

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.

(Reverse) - Changes the direction of the selected chain.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.


  • OK - finalizes the function.
  • Cancel - exits the function.

Quick Steps - Sweep Surface

  1. Open the function.

    The Sweep Surface parameters display in the Data Entry Manager and the Attachment Point list is given focus to accept selection of a point or snap point.

  2. Select a point.

    This determines where the Sweep Profile is attached to the Sweep Path.

    The point is added to the Attachment Point list and the focus is moved to the Sweep Profile list.



  3. Hold Shift and click the arc.



    The chain is added to the Sweep Profile list and the focus is moved to the Sweep Path list.

  4. Click near the end of the first chain entity to set the start of the chain.

 

Hold Shift and click near the end of the last entity to set the end of the chain.

 

Tip: When using a closed chain, where all entities are to be included in the Sweep Path, you can hold Shift and click near the end of the last entity to set the start and end of the chain in one click.

 

 

The chain is added to the Sweep Path list.

If the Preview option is selected The CAD preview is automatically created once the Attachment Point, Sweep Profile, and Sweep Path each have geometry in their lists.

 

 

  1. To create the surface as shown in the preview, click OK.



    The feature is added to the CAD Tree.

    You can repeat this process for any other surfaces.

  2. To close the function, click Cancel.

Example

Note: In the images below, the Show Axis X-Y toggle has been disabled in the Axis X-Y group of the Settings Part > Display dialog. The Gnomon has been used to show the Sweep Profile in the X,Y Plane.

 

  1. In the Quick Access Toolbar, click Open.

  2. In the Open dialog box, navigate to C:\BobCAD-CAM Data\BobCAD-CAM V**\Examples.

     

Note: This is the default install location. If you performed a custom install, navigate to the location in which you installed the software.

 

  1. Select Sweep_Surface_Example.bbcd, and click Open.

    The file opens.



     Leave the file in the ISO 2 view.

  2. In the Surfaces group, of the Create 3D tab, click Sweep Surface.

    The Sweep Surface parameters display in the Data Entry Manager and the Attachment Point list is given focus to accept selection of a point or snap point.

  3. The first step is to select a point or snap point to assign as the Attachment Point of the Sweep Profile to the Sweep Path.

    Hover over the small arc to display the snap points of the arc.



  4. Click the snap point in the center of the arc to select it.

 

The point is added to the Attachment Point list and the focus is moved to the Sweep Profile list.

 

  1. The next step is to select the Sweep Profile itself.

 

Press and hold Shift, and click the arc to select it define he profile geometry that is swept along the Sweep Path.

 



The chain is added to the Sweep Profile list and the focus is moved to the Sweep Path list.

 

Note: Because our Sweep Profile is a single entity, we used chain selection to define the start and end of the profile in one click. If you were using a group of connected entities as the sweep profile, you can still use this method, or you can click the start entity first, and then hold shift and click  the last entity to define the end of the sweep profile. This method is helpful when you have a group of connected entities, but you don't want to select them all. An example of this selection method is performed in the next step.

 

  1. The next step is to select geometry as the Sweep Path. Because we are selecting a closed sweep path, we could just hold Shift and click anywhere along the path to select it and define the direction in one click. Instead, we use the two click method and skip an entity to show how it is done.

    Click the end of entity shown below to set the start of the sweep path.

    The start arrow of the sweep path displays.



  2. To set the end of the sweep path, hold Shift and click near the end of the entity shown below.

    The Preview displays.

 

Note: Even though the chain for the sweep path is a closed path, we have selected the chain in such a way that we have avoided including a particular entity. Had we held Shift when clicking the first entity of the sweep path, all entities would have been included.

 

  1. Next to the Sweep Path list, click (Delete) to remove the partial chain from the list.

    The Preview disappears.



  2. Hold Shift and select an entity of the sweep path as shown below.



    The Preview updates.



  3. To finalize this result, we would click OK. Before we do that, we will test different Attachment Points by repeating the following three steps:

    1. Click (Delete) next to the Attachment Point list to remove the existing point.

      The Preview and the Attachment Point disappears.



    2. Click in the Attachment Point list to give it focus.

    3. With the available snap points of an arc in mind, click one to test a new Attachment Point.

Repeat sub-steps 1,2, and 3 to get the following results.

ISO 2 View

ISO 2 View

ISO 2 View

ISO 2 View

Top View

Top View

Top View

Top View


  1. Click OK to finalize the previewed result.

    The surface is created in the graphics area  and a Sweep feature is created in the CAD Tree.


 

Note: The Result shown in the image above uses the center of the arc as the Attachment Point.

 

 

  1. Click Cancel to exit the function.

 

This concludes the example.

Related Topics

The CAD Overview