Autodesk Inventor – Sweep

Create a Sweep Along a Path

1. Sketch a profile and path on intersecting planes. The path must pierce the profile plane. The start point must be located on the intersection of the planes for profile and path.
2. Click 3D Model tab  Create panel  Sweep .
   
   

   If there is only one profile in the sketch, it highlights automatically. Otherwise, select a sketch profile.

3. In the Sweep dialog box, click Profile and then select the profile to sweep.
   
   
   Tip: When making multiple profile selections, to prevent automatic advance to the next selector, clear the check box for Optimize for Single Selection.
4. With the Path selection tool, select a 2D sketch, 3D sketch, or edges of geometry.
   
   
   Note: If using edges for the path, when the sweep command is completed, the edges project to a new 3D sketch.
5. If there are multiple solid bodies, click Solids and then select the participating bodies.
6. Specify the Output type:
   
   
   • Solid . Creates a solid feature from an open or closed profile. Open profile selection is not available for base features.
   • Surface . Creates a surface feature from an open or closed profile. Functions as a construction surface on which to terminate other features, or a split tool to create a split part, or split a part into multiple bodies. Surface selection is not available for assembly extrusions or primitives (not available in Inventor LT).
7. Choose Type  Path.
8. Choose an Orientation:
   
   
   • Path . Holds the swept profile constant to the sweep path. All sweep sections maintain the original profile relationship to the path.
   • Parallel . Holds the swept profile parallel to the original profile.
9. For a path sweep oriented to a path, specify Taper and Twist angles.
   
   

   A positive taper angle increases the section area as the sweep moves away from the start point.

   A negative taper angle decreases the section area as the sweep moves away from the start point.

   With nested profiles, the sign (positive or negative) of the taper angle is applied to the outer loop of nested profiles; inner loops have the opposite sign.

10. Specify an Operation:
    
    
    • Join . Adds the volume created by the revolved feature to another feature or body. Not available in the assembly environment (not available in Inventor LT).
    • Cut . Removes the volume created by the revolved feature from another feature or body.
    • Intersect . Creates a feature from the shared volume of the revolved feature and another feature. Deletes material that is not included in the shared volume. Not available in the assembly environment (not available in Inventor LT).
    • New Solid . Creates a solid body. Each solid body is an independent collection of features separate from other bodies. A body can share features with other bodies.
11. Click Ok.