Trouble lofting....

[VCRUPI]

Hi all,

I am having trouble lofting an object to a spline. I am modeling the trim work just under the roof of a house. It has always worked fine... but today. I usually trace the trim work detial provided by the architect, then create a spline (line) of where the trimwork is to be... then i select loft, get shape and viola.

But for some reason today 3ds max is lofting it, but it gets all deformed. The splines are straight...but it lofts weird. Not sure what is causing this, but I need this fixed ASAP.

Here's a screenshot of the problem.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

[JamesTaylor]

it may be that the local axis of the either shape you are lofting or the spline is slightly off from orthagonal maybe?

[Msamir]

I faced the same problem before never knew the solution but try other work arounds like the bevel profile modifier.

[MrCAD]

please make sure to select all your vertices on the path and turn it to "corner" I'm sure the path has some curve which makes this happen. If possible please mail me the file..I'll look into it.

 

Meher

http://www.mr-cad.com

[Gander0]

Try reversing your lofting process.... Select the shape and choose get path and select your spline

[jsf]

3ds Max has a new Sweep modifier since Release 7.5 which can be found in the edit tab.

 

Construct your spline and your profile shape.

 

Select your spline attach the "sweep" modifier to it, then check the "Use Custom Section" bullet.

 

Sweep Parameters will control position and alignment.

 

Lofting is good for multiple section profiles along a spline. Where they may change size or shape.

 

Sweep works well architectural trim and mouldings.

[VCRUPI]

Thanks for all the responses... I used the "sweep" modifier to fix the problem as suggested. The only problem i noticed with that modifier is it's not as easy to edit the slpine/path as a loft. You can edit the slpine path in a loft and see the end result on the fly... can the sweep do the same?

[kdavenport]

Yes. You just need to turn on the "Show End Result" button at the bottom of the modifier stack; it looks like a little test tube. That way you can edit on one level and see the effect on all the modifiers above it.

 

As for fixing the pivot points of splines, you can do so by going to the Hierarchy tab in the Command Panel and using the "Align to World" or "Align to Object" tools or just using "Adjust Pivot Only" and manualing transforming it.

 

The pivot point orientation is the biggest issue with lofting. The local z-axis of the shape always gets projected down the local y-axis of the spline. This is true for the Sweep modifier as well if you use a custom cross section (think of Sweep as TurboLoft). So, always make sure that the sections are aligned as such.

[VCRUPI]

Ahhhh.... there it is. I totally forgot about that toggle. I thought it did it automatically.

 

Thanks for all the help.