Boss/Base Loft Feature

  How to make Boss/Base Loft Feature

 
The Loft feature is an important tool for surface modeling . With the Loft feature you can create organic shapes with multiple 2D and 3D sketches and guidecurves.

The Loft feature is an important tool for surface modeling . With the Loft feature you can create organic shapes with multiple 2D and 3D sketches and guidecurves. Today we will take a look at this feature.

Open a new part with model units set to millimeters
Go to: File > New > Part 
Create a 2D sketch
Select the Front Plane in the feature tree (menu at the left side) and create a sketch by clicking on the 2D Sketch icon 
The display changes so the Front plane faces you.

Create a shape with the Spline tool
Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Spline 
Use multiple Spline points to create a contour as shown in the picture
Make sure that the endpoint of the Spline is connected with the startpoint of the Spline  to create a closed contour.

Click at the Sketch button in the upper right corner close the 2D Sketch 
Create a new plane parallel at the Front Plane
Go to: Insert > Reference Geometry > Plane or click at the Plane icon 
Select the Front Plane as shown in the picture.
Change the Offset Distance  into 110 mm. 
Click OK 


Create a Circle sketch
Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Circle or click at the circle icon 
Draw a circle as shown in the picture
Close the Sketch 

Create a 3D Sketch
Click at the Dropdown menu under the 2D sketch option to select the 3D Sketch icon 
Create a shape with the Spline tool
Go to Tools > Sketch Entities > Spline or click at the Spline icon 
Draw a two-point Spline without any midpoints.
Change the dimensions of the blue Spline arrow to create a curve as shown in the picture.
Close the Sketch


Now it’s time to draw the Loft
Go to Insert > Boss/Base > Loft or click at the Loft icon 
Select Sketch1 and Sketch2 as loft profiles 
Enanble the Show preview option
Drag at the green balls if you can’t see a preview

Add a Guide Curve
To define the shape of the Loft it’s possible to add (multiple) Guide Curves.
Click in the purple Guide Curve box and select 3DSketch1 in the feature tree or the model 

Click OK  to apply your Loft 

The best way to discover all the possibilities with the loft feature is to practice a lot. Do you have any questions about the Loft feature? Leave a message below and I will answer them.