topic Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls. in Inventor Forum

Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

BrandonW9 — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:35:59 GMT

This seems like if should be really simple, but im having problems.

Basically, I want to be able to have two sketches, top and bottom, with a parameter that sets the distance between them, then loft between them to make a tapered "shell". I'd then put a bottom on it to make a box.

The problem im having is that the loft command wont let me pick the profile i need. It either picks the entire rectangle, or the inner shape, not the profile that would make it a hollow box with a tapered wall.

Ive attached pictures of what im trying to do... I managed to get what i want by just extruding up a full box, then lofting out the middle, but this is by far the simplest of a long line of these. Some have extra geometry in the walls, tapered inside and out, etc. It would be much simpler if it was made up of two sketches connected by a loft. Is it really not possible to do it like that?

Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

Cadmanto — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:42:33 GMT

Not sure if this will work for you, but another suggestion seeing this is just a simple box, instead of creating a loft, why not create an extruded solid box, put draft on it using the draft command, then shell it.

If this solved your issue please mark this posting "Accept as Solution".

Or if you like something that was said and it was helpful, Kudos are appreciated. Thanks!!!!

Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

PaulMunford — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:42:48 GMT

If you want consistent thickness - shell just like Cadmento says.

If you want a different draft on the inside to the outside you will have to loft twice - one to add material and one to cut.

Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

hossaiy — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 12:03:11 GMT

Hi,

if you are after a tapered wall thickness, then maybe the following will help:

Hope it helps,

Thanks

Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

johnsonshiue — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:25:48 GMT

Hi This is indeed a limitation Inventor imposes on Loft feature. Only single-loop profiles are allowed to be selected. This is to keep the loft solution stable.

magine if multiple-loop profiles were allowed, n number of loops within one section profile will need to map to another section profile. The resultant geometry may not make sense.

Thanks!

Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

BrandonW9 — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:49:14 GMT

Very interesting! Never though of doing it that way... this might work for the simpler things, but more complex profiles, and double tapers, it might be easier just to do two lofts. Thank you.

Re: Trying to loft a hollow box with tapered walls.

BrandonW9 — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:51:23 GMT

I think ive settled on two lofts for the more complex shapes... I was just temporarily baffled that it wouldnt let me pick a multi-loop profile... seems like something it should be able to handle.