Create a Solid or Surface by Sweeping (Concept)

With the SWEEP command, you can create a new solid or surface by sweeping an open or closed planar curve (profile) along an open or closed 2D or 3D path.

The SWEEP command draws a solid or surface in the shape of the specified profile (the swept object) along the specified path. You can sweep more than one object, but they all must lie on the same plane.

Show Me: A Circle Swept Along a 3D Path

Click the Play arrow to start the animation. For more information about creating and modifying helixes, see Draw Helixes and Modify Helixes.

If you sweep an open curve along a path, the result is a surface.

Sweeping is different from extruding. When you sweep a profile along a path, the profile is moved and aligned normal (perpendicular) to the path. Then the profile is swept along the path.

TipTo sweep a profile such as a closed polyline along a helix, move or rotate the profile into place and turn off the Alignment option in the SWEEP command. If you get a modeling error, make sure that the result will not intersect itself.

When you sweep objects, they can be twisted or scaled as they are swept. You can also use the Properties palette to specify the following properties for the profile after it’s been swept:

Profile Rotation
Scale Along Path
Twist Along Path
Bank (natural rotation)

NoteThe Properties palette will not allow changes to be made to these properties if the Alignment option was turned off when the profile was swept, or if the change would result in a modeling error such as a self-intersecting solid. No warning message is displayed.

You can sweep more than one object at a time, but they must all lie on the same plane.

You can use the following objects and paths when creating a swept solid or surface:

Objects That Can Be Swept (Profiles)	Objects That Can Be Used as a Sweep Path
Line	Line
Arc	Arc
Elliptical arc	Elliptical arc
2D polyline	2D polyline
2D spline	2D spline
Circle	Circle
Ellipse	Ellipse
3D face	3D spline
2D solid	3D polyline
Trace	Helix
Region	Edges of solids or surfaces
Planar surface
Planar faces of solid

NoteYou can select faces and edges on solids or surfaces by pressing and holding CTRL, and then selecting these subobjects.

The DELOBJ system variable controls whether the profile and sweep path are automatically deleted when the solid or surface is created or whether you are prompted to delete the profile and path.