Help with lofts

Looking at this tutorial

http://www.productdesignforums.com/index.php?showtopic=230&hl=solidworks&st=
30

I am a bit puzzled how you do a lofted surface/filled surface around a
curves path?

This is the only tutorial I can find regarding lofted surface/filled
surface.

I am fine with simple lofts in a striaght line. But when I try curved paths
it doesn't work. (error about not interecting the objects)


Have you guys any tips or even better a tutorial?

 

You are asking about lofts and filled surfaces, but the terminology is
that of a sweep. What are you trying to do?

If you search the newsgroup you will find the standard answer to be:

Go to the DiMonte Group
website
http://www.dimontegroup.com/

Download Ed Eaton's Curvy Stuff tutorials.

Ed also will be doing seminars on this material at SolidWorks World.
Others will also be presenting.

 

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/DSG322/solidworks_surface_tutorials.htm

You need to create guide curves for the loft to follow.

 

Tip - this is a great place to come for help, but you might want to
take a look at the loft dialog and double check the names of the boxes
you are entering things into - there are no 'paths' in loft, but there
is a section for 'guide curves' and for a 'centerline'. I assume you
mean one of those two when you mention a 'path'. When we know what you
are actually trying to do, we will be better able to help you out.

I also have to assume that the error was 'not interSecting the
curves/profiles' or something like that - it's best to write down
exactly what it says if you are asking for help.

Based on the guesses I have to make based on what you posted, it looks
like your guide curves do not actually intersect in 3D space with your
loft profiles. When you loft in SWx, you can't futz around - you have
to be precise or everything can go horribly, horribly wrong. Guide
curves need to 'intersect' with profiles, not just go kinda near them.
(not related to your problem, but good to know: You also have to be
sure that the start and end tangency vectors of the guide curves
matches the start and end tangency directions of the loft or you give
SWx a conflict that it has to resolve - and SWx is not very good at
guessing what you really want when you tell it to do two different
things at the same time)

 

That is a great tutorial that you are going through if you are trying
to understand lofting more non-prismatic shapes.

When you are creating that loft only choose the surface edge to the
bottom curve as the profiles. Then choose the 3 or 4 (I forget) as the
guide curves.