Rail Sweep Quick Help |
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Overview | |||
The Pwr_RailSweep command sweeps one or more shape curves along a set of one or more rail curves with optional tangency constraints. If you are using surfaces to construct your objects, the Rail Sweep will likely be one of the most valuable tools that you have. We have gone to great lengths and developed new technology to give you a rail sweep that is extremely powerful in it's ability to create a desired shape. There are also a lot of different ways to control the sweep making it a very complex command. The defaults should be a good starting point for most sweeping operations. Here is how to use Power Rail Sweep :
Right Click menu Options:
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Rail Sweep Selection | |||
Pick Rails: Choose
the rail curves |
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Blend Options | |||
Cubic with Bias: This
is the default option for blending between shapes when there is more than
one shape specified. Typically this option is used when precise
control over multiple shapes is required using the shape bias to control the
strength of the contribution of from each shape.
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Continuity Options | |||
Tangent Continuity: Utilize geometric tangent (G1) continuity along interior rails in cases
where there are 3 or more rails. This is the default and recommended setting.
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Creation Options | |||
Uniform Scaling of Shapes: If this option is specified the shapes will be scaled uniformly as they move between two rails where the distance varies. This option is required for sweeping to a single point. The default value is true.
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Shape Synch & Approx | |||
G1 End Continuity: G1
End Continuity maintains the first derivative of the re approximated
curve. This value is only applicable if the Number Points is > 3
otherwise it is ignored.. |
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Selected Shape Bias | |||
Back: Specifies the
strength of the selected curve in the blending going backward to the start
of the sweep. This is the bias of the curve entering the shape.
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Rail Rotation Axis | |||
Use Rails Rotation: As the rail curves in space this option enables the shape to rotate with it as it moves along. If you turn this off, the orientation of the interior generated shapes will remain the same as the original shapes. Note that control can be applied to individual rails - see above "Rail Control Options". The Default is to have Use Rails Rotation checked.
X, Y, Z: Allows specification of a vector to constrain the rail rotation. Constrain Rot To Axis: If TRUE the axis specified will constrain the rotation. For example if you constrain the rail rotation to the Z axis you get a shape like a banister of a curved stair way. The interior shapes rotation is only in the Z axis.
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