Creating guide rails for a 3D printer fan duct

[jamesqb2001]

I'm trying to design a fan duct for my 3D printer, but despite following a tutorial that is along similar lines, I cannot create guide rails between the two different planes that I have drawn sketches on.

I have drawn a centre rectangle sketch on the XY plane and a centre rectangle sketch on an offset YZ plane.

The Youtube video I've watched shows the command "Sketch > Create > Project" being used on the centre points of the two rectangles, after which the spline tool is used to draw a multi-point line between those two centre points, which then becomes the guide rail for the "Loft" command.

I've tried using the "project" command but it isn't working, it just creates purple dots on whatever plane I have chosen for sketching, rather than the rectangles' centre dots on both planes becoming active so I can draw a line between them.

Could someone please give me simple steps to follow to achieve this?

Pictures are of what I've sketched so far, and a 3D model from the web which is very similar to what I want to produce.

What I've done so farSimilar to what I want to create

[etfrench]

Create a plane between the two rectangle centerpoints.  In a sketch on that plane Project/Intersect the rectangles.  Draw your guide rail between the midpoints of the two projected lines.

Note: If the centers of both rectangles are not on a plane perpendicular to each, then project one of the rectangles to the other rectangles sketch.  Draw a line between the midpoint of that to the midpoint of the other rectangle.  Create a plane at angle on that line.  Note: Only the centerpoints of the rectangles need to be projected.

If this doesn't work for you, attach your file to the thread.

[jamesqb2001]

I'm sorry, I don't understand. I've attached the file in what I hope is the right format.

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

Use a Surface workspace loft and Thicken the result.

[jamesqb2001]

Thank you, that is perfect. I've done the thicken command. I am trying now to add a lip around the bottom, but it won't allow me to join it or use the combine command. May I ask for your further assistance please?

[etfrench]

The combine failed because of the near tangent coincidence of several faces.  I changed the dimensions slightly to remedy that.  Step through the Timeline after the Thicken feature to see the changes.

[etfrench]

Here's another method:

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

Would this not work better?

[etfrench]

That is a much cleaner method.