Loft

Pro, Platinum Pro, Platinum Pro, Platinum

Creates 3D solids passing through two or more cross sections.

Accessing the Command

command bar: loft

menu bar: Model | 3D Solids | Loft

toolbar: 3D Modeling |

: loft

Prompts you in the command bar:

Select cross sections in lofting order [MOde]: (Select a closed 2D entity or a planar face of a 3D solid; or choose the Mode option.)

The first part of the lofted 3D solid is created.

Select cross sections in lofting order [MOde]: (Select more 2D entities or planar faces; or choose the Mode option; or press Enter to stop selecting cross sections.)

The the lofted 3D solid is created.

3 cross sections selected

Enter an option [Guides/Cross sections only/Settings] <Cross sections only>: (Press Enter or choose an option.)

Cross sections

Lofted solids.

Lofted solid using faces of 3D solids and a circle.

Command Options

Option	Description
Mode	Allows to create a solid (left) or a surface (right). Prompts you: Choose type of created entity [SOlid/SUrface] <SOlid>: Solid: Creates a lofted solid. Surface: Creates a lofted surface.
Cross Sections only	Uses the selected cross sections only, no guides. If DELOBJ = 1 or 2, the selected 2D entities are deleted.
Guides	Use guide lines between the selected cross sections. If DELOBJ = 2, the selected guide entities are deleted. Prompts you: Select guide curves: Select a linear entity (lines, arcs, elliptical arcs, splines, single-segment 2D polylines and edges of 3D solids are accepted.) Select guide curves: Select more linear entities or press Enter.

	Cross sections (red) and guides (blues)	Cross sections only	All guides selected

	Cross sections (red).	Cross sections selected only	Curved solid edge selected as a guide.
Settings	Allows to set the Loft surfaces and solids settings. The default settings are controlled through a series of system variables, which are saved in the drawing: Loft Normals settings: Prompts you: Current option is Smooth. Enter an option [Ruled/Smooth fit/Normal to/Draft angles] <eXit>: Ruled: The surface of the solid is straight between the cross sections and has sharp edges at each cross section. Smooth fit (default): The surface of the solid is drawn smoothly between the cross sections. Normal to: Allows to specify that the surface of the solid is normal to the cross sections. The options are Start, End, Both (= Start and End) and All. Solid surface is normal to the start (left), end (middle), both (right) cross sections Draft Angles: The draft angle is the start/end direction of the surface of the lofted solid. The Magnitude setting controls the relative distance of the surface from the cross section in the direction of the draft angle before the surface starts to bend toward the next cross section. LOFTANG1 = 45°, LOFTANG2 = 135° Loft Angles = 90° (left), Loft Angles = 0° (middle), Loft Angles = 180° (right)