Sweep 1 rail problem

[Splint]

Hi,
I have a curve which is made up of a line and two interpolated point curves which I have joined successfully but when I use it as a rail for a sweep the cross section shape (circle) follows the lines as three seperate parts and causes an overlap.
I am trying to use the sweep to make a surface to cut two other surfaces wich I intend blending. I tried to overcome this by using the reference curve to create one long interpolated point curve which I did make a sweep from but I trimmed the two surfaces and then found I couldn't blend or or join a third radiused surface. I have included a couple of images to show what I'm trying to describe. Dose anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

Cheers
Splint

[DAB_Design]

I'm a bit confused. Is the first screen shot a close up of the second? Because I'm not seeing it.

If the second screenshot is what you are having a problem with, can't you just use the 'pipe' command?

Any chance of posting the file you're having the problem with?

[Splint]

Sorry to confuse you. The first shot is a shaded view of the two surfaces which I would like to have a radius where they meet. The second view is the unsuccessful rail sweep which shows how it is made of three section where it should be one continuous pipe.
I tried the pipe tool but it (being derived from the sweep 1 rail command) produces the same result. I'll post the file tomorrow after I've cleaned a few things up on it.

Thanks
Splint

[Splint]

Here's a file with the two surfaces which I'd like to blend. I used the duplicate edge tool where the surfaces meet to generate a rail for the sweep. The result is three curves which I join and then do the sweep 1 rail. The results are as shown in my earlier post. Any ideas on what's wrong?
Thanks
Splint

[krustykrab]

what size radius do you want?

[Splint]

2.5mm would be good, but I'd really like to know how to overcome the problem I'm having so I can deal with it should I encounter it in the future.

Thanks
Splint

[DAB_Design]

Something like this ?

[Splint]

Hi Dustin,
yes, that's what I'm trying to acheive. I assume you drew the curve as a single line and then extruded it, where mine was made up of three curves joined into one and then extruded. Strangely when the extruded surface is picked it is treated as one surface but when I try to do anything with either the single surface or the joined lines the are treated as three seperate parts (see the attached images of my attempt to fillet the surfaces). I figure if I start with a single curve I should be able to get around this.

Thanks very much for your help.
Splint

[DAB_Design]

Actually, I created 2 solids to make it work. You'll want to create the main part as a solid. Then the other (smaller area) as a solid. Make sure the smaller object extends all the way into the larger object. Then do a boolean union, then use 'filletedge', and select the edge you want blended. You can then explode the solid, and delete the surfaces that aren't needed, and make any other modifications (adding the semi-circle cutouts, etc).

Do you have a blueprint or anything? If you can wait a few days, I can go through it step by step and take screen shots at each step for you. The original file you posted may be enough, but I'm too tired to look at it right now. If what I typed above doesn't make sence, I'll blame it on being too tired also.

[Splint]

Hi Dustin,
thanks, I hadn't considered doing it the way you just described, good idea. Don't worry about making a tutorial for me, I understand what you've done. I used the single curve approach (using an interpolated points curve) and it worked out ok. Just as a side note on that technique, if you put too many points in the curve I found that it will not join or fillet, redraw the curve with less points and it works fine.

Thanks again.
Splint