LOFT (Command)

Creates a 3D solid or surface in the space between several cross sections.

Find

Creates a 3D solid or surface by specifying a series of cross sections. The cross sections define the shape of the resulting solid or surface. You must specify at least two cross sections.

Loft cross sections can be open or closed, planar or non-planar, and can also be edge subobjects. Open cross sections create surfaces and closed cross sections create solids or surfaces, depending on the specified mode.

When creating surfaces, use SURFACEMODELINGMODE to control whether the surface is a NURBS surface or a procedural surface. Use SURFACEASSOCIATIVITY to control whether procedural surfaces are associative.

You can use the following objects and subobjects with LOFT:

Objects That Can Be Used as Cross Sections

Objects That Can Be Used as a Loft Path

Objects That Can Be Used as Guides

2D polyline

Spline

2D spline

2D solid  

2D spline

Helix

3D spline

Arc

Arc

Arc

Circle

Circle

2D polyline

Note:

2D polylines can be used as guides if they contain only 1 segment.

Edge sub-objects Edge subobjects Edge subobjects

Ellipse

Ellipse

3D polyline

Elliptical arc

Elliptical arc

Elliptical arc

Helix

2D polyline

 

Line

Line

Line

Planar or non-planar face of solid  

Planar or non-planar surface  

Points (first and last cross section only)

3D polyline

Region  

Trace  

The following prompts are displayed.

Cross Sections in Lofting Order

Specifies open or closed curves in the order in which the surface or solid will pass through them.

Point

Specifies first or last point of the lofting operation. If you start with the Point option, you must next select a closed curve.

Join Multiple Edges

Handles multiple, end-to-end edges as one cross section.

Mode

Controls whether the lofted object is a solid or a surface.

Continuity

This option only displays if the LOFTNORMALS system variable is set to 1 (smooth fit). Specifies whether the continuity is G0, G1, or G2 where the surfaces meet.

Bulge Magnitude

This option only displays if the LOFTNORMALS system variable is set to 1 (smooth fit). Specifies a bulge magnitude value for objects that have a continuity of G1 or G2.

Guides

Specifies guide curves that control the shape of the lofted solid or surface. You can use guide curves to control how points are matched up on corresponding cross sections to prevent undesired results, such as wrinkles in the resulting solid or surface.

  • Intersects each cross section
  • Starts on the first cross section
  • Ends on the last cross section

Select any number of guide curves for the lofted surface or solid and press Enter.

Path

Specifies a single path for the lofted solid or surface.

The path curve must intersect all planes of the cross sections.

Cross Sections Only

Creates lofted objects without using guides or paths.

Settings

Displays the Loft Settings dialog box.