Twisting Lofts, mapping points are not appearing to edit. Loft twist when adding rails.

[merrillmitchell]

I am really at a loss.  I have worked on trying to get these two pieces (one piece actually) to connect for almost two years and I can not get it no matter what I try.  Someone had recomended using surface lofts, but the same issue arose.  The loft will work until I add the rails.  Sometimes it says the rails connect, sometimes not.  Everytime the loft twist.  In one example I was able to move the mapping point around; but they do not show up as editable here.  

Also, is there any way to make the curvature less harsh?

[davebYYPCU]

Why does @etfrench’s solution not work?

[merrillmitchell]

I do not know how he got to his solution.  When I try to solve with his method, the same thing happens and I can not move the mapping points.  Just, like i said above.

[davebYYPCU]

I thought I had seen this or similar arm before.

Taking a lead from the supplied pic, and the sketches in the file, break it down to baby steps

I presume you are trying for a Loft from cut edges of body 14 and 15. that works with your Rail sketch, (similar to Body 17 on the other side)

But when I unhide body 5, you get this.

Not sure what you want, but the first external surface is the same as @etfrench had suggested.

There is no construction for a loft to body 5, so was not attempted.

Might help....

[TrippyLighting]

---

@merrillmitchell wrote:

I am really at a loss.  I have worked on trying to get these two pieces (one piece actually) to connect for almost two years and I can not get it no matter what I try. 

---

I personally from an aesthetic standpoint find the random blobby lofts that have been proposed so far unattractive.

A more "mechanical" way of connecting the different geomerties would "look" better.

But just now looking at the model again, I can "see another interesting option. BRB 😉

[TrippyLighting]

Here is another option. It could do with some refinement for better transitions, but I hope the design conweys the overall concept.

[TrippyLighting]

Aaand #3:

Note that none of these need any lofts 😉