Cruves in 2 planes

[a_mcweeney5XRXUN]

Hello,

I am fairly new to inventor and im attempting to make a part which has curves in 2 different planes. the first curve has been done but i am unsure how to achieve the second one. i am trying to get the 2 highlighted sections to curve downards as if to wrap around something cylindrical. any help on how to ahieve this would be greatly appreciated.

[kacper.suchomski]

Hi

It is good practice to attach your file and a hand-drawn sketch of the desired result - this will make it easier to understand the goal and find your way faster.

[pcrawley]

I would construct that as a surface using a Loft (or Sweep depending on the complexity of the geometry) - something like this:

Then I would thicken it. 

However, thickening the surface may not give you the edge shape you require, so you may need to create some additional geometry to trim the edges.

2025 model attached for reference.  Hope it gives you a place to start.

[SBix26]

If it is actually a cylindrical shape, then model it as a cylinder and trim it to the correct outline.  Or, using a 3D sketch, project/wrap a 2D sketch to the correct diameter cylindrical surface, then thicken it.

As @kacper.suchomski suggested, an image/drawing/preliminary attempt would make it much easier to help you.  And, we need to know what version of Inventor you're using.

[a_mcweeney5XRXUN]

Hi, I have managed to achieve the design i was looking for, however there seems to be problems with it. there are errors for some 'projected loops' although im not sure what they mean. I will attach the file, and it is from Inventor 2024. My hand drawing skills are terrible though, and will probably only complicate things further xd. basically the desired design has been achieved, but i am unsure to get rid of the errors it provides. Thanks in advance for your help

[a_mcweeney5XRXUN]

Hi,

I have tried to do your design of wrapping the sketch to a cylinder which has worked, but i cannot seem to find a way to thicken it. the extrude function doesnt seem to work. how would you go about thickening it? Thanks

[pcrawley]

You are correct - Extrude will not work.  It only works from/to a planar face.

Try Splitting the face:

Then "Thicken" it:

Then make the Sketch visible and repeat the process for the other regions.

[SBix26]

I've attached another way (Inventor 2024 format), which is to create a cylindrical surface, not solid, wrap the sketch as you did, then use the 3D sketch to create a Boundary Patch and thicken that:

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Sam B

Inventor Pro 2025.2.1 | Windows 11 Home 24H2