How to extract path from swept solid

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I've got a problem with a shape that I created in the past using SWEEP command. After long time I have to re-edit a path of extrusion. The problem is that the only way to edit a path is by dragging the vertices, unfortunatelly my not-too-bad PC can't handle this and lags as hell. Is there some kind of solution to revert my shape back to its original form. I mean having shape (in this case a circle) and sweep path (a 3D Polyline or Spline - don't remember) separately, just like before SWEEP usage.

DWG attached.

Thanks in advance,

TB.

[beyoungjr · Accepted solution]

It appears that your 3D Solid is symmetrical about the Y axis.  I first changed your view from Perspective to Parallel.  Then I copied your solid 150 units in Y+.  Then I used Extract Edges to get the circles & ellipses for your object.

I delete the solid from the edges and I see all 637 objects (2 circles in red, 635 ellipses).

From here you can regenerate a spline path from centers for just half of the objects.  Use the center ellipse and all objects to right or left (320 objects).  You will have to use 320 selection points to get the resolution of your solid, if you use less then you may not get the same resolution.

Turn off all but CENTER for your OSNAPS when creating your Spline path and this will go very smoothly.

Hope this helps you.

Cheers,

Blaine

[Anonymous]

Great, thanks! I have modified my sweep path but now I am unable to sweep my pretty circle along it... Any ideas?

See DWG attached.

[beyoungjr]

Hi,

Glad you got the path.  It looks good to me but I couldn't get the sweep to work on the spline either.  I selected the spline and right-clivked to change it to a polyline with a resolution of 10.  The sweep seemed to act like it was going to work so I waited for about 4 minutes.  I got a modeling error and a code 108044, which I've see before.  I can't recall what I've done to overcome it before but I'll work at it.

More to come...

[beyoungjr]

Hi again,

I re-opened the file I sent back to you before.  I created a quick spline with only about 12 centerpoint vertices from the middle of the set of edge profiles I generated before.  I could not SWEEP with the spline but when I changed it to a polyline with resolution of 10 it created a solid in about 10 seconds.

I suspect that your spline path might have an issue??? Maybe you accidentally "doubled-back" somewhere?

You could make a few copies of the object sets you created in your most recent file and play with the path a bit by removing vertice points.  Just hover over a vertice and select remove.  You might also improve the chance of not crashing the sweep on a polyline by reducing the selected points in your path.  BUt I suspect the resolution might suffer a little.

I might try a few more attempts.

[wesley_curti]

I presume, from the complexity of the answer, there is no equivalent to the EXPLODE command that just takes you back to swept shape and path? That would be really, really useful!