Rules for Defining a Trajectory
A constant section sweep can use either a trajectory sketched at the time of feature creation or a trajectory made up of selected datum curves or edges. As a general rule, the trajectory must have adjacent reference surfaces or be planar.
When you define a sweep, the system checks the specified trajectory for validity and establishes normal surfaces. A normal surface is the surface whose normal is used to establish the Y-axis of the trajectory. When ambiguity exists, the system prompts you to select a normal surface.
Depending on the type of chain selected as a trajectory, the system behaves as follows:
- All chain segments reference edges桾he normal surfaces are the adjacent surfaces of the edges. If the edges are two-sided, the system prompts you to choose one set of surfaces.
- All chain segments reference entities that belong to a datum curve, created by referencing surfaces (for example, by using the Projected option)桾he normal surfaces are reference surfaces of the curve. If the curve references two sets of surfaces, the system prompts you to choose one.
- All chain segments reference a sketched datum curve梩he normal surface is the sketching plane of the curve.
- The chain of edges/curves is planar (other than a straight line)桾he normal surface is the plane defined by the chain.
- Datum curves that you select for the trajectory must be created with one of the following options:
Sketch
Intr. Surfs
Use Xsec
Projected
Formed
OffsetfromSrf
2 Projections from any curve that lies in a plane
Consider the following special cases:
- If a datum curve and its adjacent surfaces were bent by a toroidal bend feature, you can use that curve as a trajectory.
- If you extend the chain with Trim/Extend in the CHAIN menu, the system accepts that chain if it is planar.
Note that a sweep may fail if
- A trajectory crosses itself
- You align or dimension a section to fixed entities, but the orientation of the section changes when its is swept along the 3-dimensional trajectory
- An arc or a spline radius is too small, relative to the section, and the feature intersects itself traversing around the arc. |