Part Sweep

Overview
The FreeCAD Part Sweep tool (Part Workbench), is used to create a face, shell or a solid shape from two or more profiles, projected along a path.

The Part Sweep tool is similar to Part_Loft with the addition of a path to define the projection between profiles.

The profiles can be a point (vertex), line (Edge), wire or face. Edges and wires may be either open or closed. There are various limitations and complications, see below, however the profiles may come from the Part Workbench primitives, Draft Workbench features and a Sketch.

The Sweep has two parameters, "Solid" and "Frenet" each with a value of either "true" or "false" as well as "Transition" parameter which describes the transition style of the Sweep at a joint in the path, if the path is a wire and therefore does not define the corner transition.

If "Solid" is "true" FreeCAD creates a solid if the profiles are of closed geometry, if "false" FreeCAD creates a face or (if more than one face) a shell for either open or closed profiles.

If "Frenet" is "true" the orientation of the profile will be consistent to the local orientation of the path, along a helical path.

Use with a guide curve
The command is invoked in the workspace under Part molding - sweeping ... it appears a list with two columns.

The sketch for the profile to be used is in the list selected node / wire, then the right arrow in the selection in the list sweep added.



In the 3D area, the guide curve is selected (for selecting multiple guide curves the shift key use).



This allows the command to be executed - OK.



The molded part produced in this manner is a composite surface, no solid. To produce a solid, either before completing the command in the box below lists the node / wire and sweep switch Generate Solid be set or when the command in the View Properties tab data field Solid the value of false is set to true.



FreeCAD - Version
0.13