LOFT

1. Lofts 1.1.Basic lofting Lofting enables you to create features that are defined by multiple sketches. The system constructs the feature either a boss or a cut by building the feature between the sketches. We are given the dimensions of the bottom, top, and an intermediate section of the part, as well as its height. This sort of problem lends itself very well to lofting. The major steps in this operation are: Create the sketches: For the result they should be made up of the same number of entities and you should give some thought to how the entities will map one to the other during the loft. Optionally create guide curves. Optionally we can use guide curve to give more control over the transitions between the profiles. Insert the loft between the profiles. Where you can select each profile and the order in which you select them is very important Inserting a Loft creates a boss, cut or surface using the profiles and optionally guide curves. The loft is first created between the profiles and optional guide provide additional control over how the shape in between the profile is generated. In first example I will show you how to use loft base feature. 1.1.1. Procedure

a) To begin with I will create multiple sketches in different planes. 1) Creating sketch one select Right plane and click on sketch toolbox/sketch icon. Now create a sketch shown in figure 3.1. When the sketch is fully defined exit sketch.

Figure 3.1. Sketch in right plane 2) Creating sketch two select Top plane and click sketch. Now create sketch show in figure 3.2. After fully defining sketch click exit sketch.

Figure 3.2 Sketch two 3) Defining first plane To define first plane click on features bar/reference geometry/plane. Than select top plane and enter distance for a new plane. The distance is 31.75mm. This is shown in figure 3.3.

4)

Figure 3.3 Adding a plane one Defining second plane To define second plane use the same procedure but for first reference select the line 2 form sketch one, and for second reference select point 4 form sketch one. This is shown in figure 3.4.

Figure 3.4 Adding a second plane 5) Creating a third sketch this sketch will be created in a first plane. The details are shown in figure 3.5.

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Figure 3.5 Third sketch Creating a fourth sketch This sketch will be created in the second plane. The sketch will be shown in figure 3.6.

Figure 3.6 Fourth sketch b) Lofting 1) Insert a loft by clicking Insert, Boss/Base, Loft, or click Lofted Boss/Base on the Features toolbar 2) Loft property manager Click in the profiles list and select the two sketches in the graphics window. You should pick in roughly the same location on corresponding entities in each sketch. When lofting three or more sketches they have to be in the proper sequence. If the profiles are not in the correct order in the list you can reposition them using Up and Down buttons. 3) Preview As you select the sketches, the system generates a preview showing which vertices on the sketches will be connected during the loft. Pay close attention to this preview because it will show you if the loft is going to twist. A callout also appears to identify the profiles.

Figure 3.7 Loft feature 4) Now we will enter the thin feature. So set the Thickness to 2.286mm and make sure the thickness is added to the outside of the profiles. Click OK to create it. 1.2.Merge tangent faces The Merge tangent faces option causes the surfaces in the loft feature to be tangent if the corresponding segments in the profiles are tangent. Faces that can be represented as planes, cylinders, or cones are maintained. Other adjacent faces are merged, and the sections are approximated. Sketch arcs may be converted to splines. Edit the feature Edit the definition of the load feature. Under options, click Merge tangent faces. Click Ok. Notice that the edges that corresponded to the ends of the lines and arcs int the profiles are now gone. This Procedure is shown in figure 3.8.

Figure 3.8 Merge tangent faces 1.3. Start and End Constraints When lofting, you can control how the feature is built by using options that influence how the system starts and ends the loft at the beginning and ending profiles. You can also control the length and direction of the influence at each end. 1) Edit the feature Edith the feature of the loft feature. Expand the Start/End Constraints group box. By default, no special tangency options were applied to the start and end of the loft. 2) Normal to profile. Select the options Normal to Profile for both the start and end of the loft. The tangent vector arrows should point in the directions shown. If they do not, click Reverse Direction to reverse the direction. Leave the start and end tangent length values at the default 1. Changing the tangent length changes the influence on the shape of the loft. You can change all the Tangent Length values by typing a value and clicking Apply to all. Individually, a single tangent vector arrow can by dragged. The result is shown in figure 3.10.

Figure 3.10- The result