Using Guide Curves in a Sweep

While recently creating a model for an upcoming Certification exam, I ran across the use of a function that may or may not be widely used when creating sweeps in SolidWorks.

The part I'm creating calls for a wavy design that has a round feature that sweeps along its outside path:

 

Here is the side profile:

 

I started off with a square shape that has the wave built in it:

 

Then it was a matter of cutting the circle out that I wanted:

 

Now is where the sweep with guide curves comes in.  Step one is to create the profile that will get swept along the outside of the part:

 

The next step it to create the path that the profile will follow.  To do this I started a 3D Sketch, right clicked on of the edges, then selected "Select Tangency":

 

Normally this is all the information you need to create a basic sweep.  The issue with this example arises because the sweep is going to be changing elevation along the path, so guide curves will be necessary to tie it down.  Let's look at how the sweep would preview if I used the profile, and path already created:

 

The preview looks ok from the front, but along the back of the part is where there are issues:

 

You can see how the profile is not staying along the face as it changes elevation.  In fact this sweep fails if you try to accept it.  The solution was to add not one, but two guide curves to keep the profile traveling along the correct path.

On the options tab, you can select the "Follow 1st and 2nd guide curves" from the pull down: 

At this point you will have to have two additional 3D sketches already created.  Using the same selection of the tangent edges as shown above, you would create two 3D sketches that would like like this:

  

They must be in separate sketches, and you will not be able to select the path as a guide curve in the sweep manager.  You will end up with a preview like this:

 

Upon successful completion, you will have the part looking just as I have mine:

 

Just about every SolidWorks feature has multiple options to help make a model come out the way you need it to.  By exploring these options, chances are you will get what your looking for without the need for additional features or steps.

By the way, this model is going to be used in an upcoming exam that will have the user create a mold parting line.  Here is a look at the final part:

Comments

[David Walker]

Mike,
Wouldn't it be a lot easier just to do a Full round fillet?