AutoDesSys products: form&middotZ
 
Sweeps along arbitrary paths

Open or closed profile shapes can be swept along both planar and non-planar paths that have an arbitrary position in 3D space. They are created with two clicks of the mouse. The first click selects the profile to be swept (source shape), and the second click selects the path line along which it will be swept.

Left: Utility pipes derived by sweeping circles along 3D paths, Right: Freely unfolding "ribbons."


The source profile can be scaled and/or rotated as it is swept, which offers a large variety of possibilities for creating imaginative 3D forms. An option to keep the source profile perpendicular to a reference plane is also available, which easily lends itself to the generation of objects such as roads.

Left: A toy race track. Right: Sweeps with the source profile scaled and/or rotated.


A preview dialog, where a swept object can be inspected and changed before its actual generation, is also available. In this dialog, the parameters of a swept object can be manipulated interactively, which includes the positioning, scaling, and rotation of the profile shape. This makes the creation of sweeps a very intuitive operation.

Two unique variations of the sweeps are those generated from two different source shapes and those created along two paths. These sweeps offer additional impressive possibilities for creating some very challenging 3D forms.

Left:Two-path sweeps. Right: Two-source sweeps.

 

 

form·Z feature list

Introduction


Interface


Modeling

Primitives
Spherical objects
Metaballs
3D solids and 2D shapes
Patterned polygons
Derivative surfaces, extrusions, enclosures
Parallel objects
Frames

Projection objects
Unfolding
Terrain models
Revolved objects
Helixes
Screws and bolts
Stairs
Sweeps
Draft Sweeps
Skinning
Lofting
S-lofts
Meshed objects
Subdivisions
Moving and disturbing meshes
Deformations
Bending along curves
Morphing
Image based displacements
Rounding
Blending and filleting
Draft angles
Splines and c-curves
C-Meshes
Nurbz
Formula curves and surfaces
Patches
Metaformz
Boolean operations
Trimming, splitting, and stitching
2D and 3D sections
Deriving contours
Lines of intersection
Joining and separating
Grouping and ungrouping
Placing and editing text
Symbols
Editing 3D lines
Converting representations of objects
Extracting controls
Inquiring and measuring
Repairing objects and projects
Moving, rotating, resizing, and mirroring
Clones
Attaching
Repair
Replace
Inserting
Deleting

Drafting


Rendering


Special features

Extensive import/export
Panoramic views
Straight up perspectives
View matching
Walk through animation
Rapid prototyping
2D/3D digitizing

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