topic Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object? in AutoCAD Forum

Change the shape of a path extruded object?

!AjI! — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 09:36:44 GMT

Hello all,

I've got numerous path extrusions which use the shape of a rectangle along the path, to represent numerous channels.

I need to change these so that they represent cables. So I need to change the shape of a rectangle to a circle along all of the paths.

Is this possible?

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

Patchy — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:21:32 GMT

Change the shape of a path extruded object.

Did you mean change the shape of the object ?

Is this possible?

It is possible to change the shape along a path or guides if you use LOFT

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

!AjI! — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:35:18 GMT

Ah yes, the LOFT method, however the situation I am trying to resolve.
What I have is a number of path extrusions that were born from a square shape, which then creates a long box extrusion along the path. This has been done a number of times so that there are now many long box shaped path extrusions in the drawing that form the 'network' that is being designed.

I have now been instructed to have those extrusions as circular shapes, so that they become long tubes instead of long boxes.

So as the loft command will create new extrusions that can follow different shapes along the path, I am simply wanting to change the shape of existing extrusions. (From long box to long tube).

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

Patchy — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:47:34 GMT

Take a photo and show us.

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

!AjI! — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:59:30 GMT

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:59:44 GMT

@!AjI! wrote:

.... I am simply wanting to change the shape of existing extrusions. (From long box to long tube).

I don't think that's possible. I expect you would need to re-Extrude [or Sweep] using the Circle cross-section, assuming the paths are still there to Extrude along.

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

!AjI! — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:00:04 GMT

The above needs to become circular instead of rectangular. Any easy method?

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

j.palmeL29YX — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:04:38 GMT

I don't know a way to substitute the source of a path extrusion with another geometry.

But your current source were squares. So maybe you can fillet the four edges of your extrusion with the radius of the half length of a square side. The success of this method depends on the figure of the path's.

>>video<<

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

j.palmeL29YX — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:09:58 GMT

@!AjI! wrote:

The above needs to become circular instead of rectangular. Any easy method?

Oha. Now we have rectangles - above you wrote squares. So my suggestion above will not work.

And "Any easy method"? Not that I know a solution 😞

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

Patchy — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:10:52 GMT

Draw a 3dpolyline along the center of the rectangles then sweep, extrude, loft the new pipe shape.

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

!AjI! — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:26:51 GMT

Yep that would work, thanks, but I was hoping there was an automatic method rather than having to re-draw the paths.

The image above is just an extract of a much wider network.

If there isn't then looks like I've got a bit of over-time to do 😉

Re: Change the shape of a path extruded object?

Patchy — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:31:02 GMT

Sub it out to others then sit back, relax 😁