Creating three-dimensional entities from extracted curves

You can create curves from the contours of three-dimensional surfacesand from solids if your program version supports themand use those curves to experiment with non-mesh shapes. The resulting curves depend on the original entity's shape and can be lines, polylines, arcs, circles, or splines.

When finished experimenting with the resulting curves, you can use the Loft command to create a solid or surface from the revised curves.

To extract curves

   1   Do one of the following to choose Extract Isolines ():

    On the ribbon, choose Draw 3D > Extract Isolines (in Curves).

    On the menu, choose Modify > 3D Operations > Extract Isolines.

    Type surfextractcurve and then press Enter.

   2   Select the surface, solid, or solid face that you want to extract curves from. To select a solid face, press Ctrl + click.

   3   Optionally choose any of the following:

    Chain Extracts curves from adjacent faces of the entity you select.

    Direction Changes the direction of the extracted curves. By default, curves are created in the U direction.

   4   Move the mouse over the selected entity, and then click to create the curve that is being previewed.

   5   Continue creating curves, and press Enter when done.

To extract splines that pass through all specified points on the surface

   1   Do one of the following to choose Extract Isolines ():

    On the ribbon, choose Draw 3D > Extract Isolines (in Curves).

    On the menu, choose Modify > 3D Operations > Extract Isolines.

    Type surfextractcurve and then press Enter.

   2   Select the surface, solid, or solid face that you want to create a custom curve from. To select a solid face, press Ctrl + click.

   3   Choose Spline points.

   4   Specify a point for the spline to pass through.

   5   Continue specifying points, and then press Enter when done.