Set up the Draft tool

1. Choose Surfaces > Draft Surfaces > Draft/Flange ❒.
2. Set the Mode to Draft, then click Go.
   TipDrag the tool to the shelf to save a custom version of the tool in Draft mode.

Pull a surface from a set of curves

1. Choose Surfaces > Draft Surfaces > Draft/Flange in Draft mode.
2. Click the curves, then click Go.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Use the pull direction and angle/depth manipulators to adjust the draft surface.
   • -click a point on one of the original curves to add another angle/depth manipulator. (Input curves must be at least tangent continuous for this to work).
   • -click an angle/depth manipulator to delete it.

   

   NoteAt corners (where the original curves share endpoints), the Draft tool will extend the draft surfaces to fill any gap if necessary, then intersect and trim them, to form a sharp corner.

Set the pull direction

Interactively, with the manipulator

• Click an axis line to set the pull direction.
• Type “x”, “y”, or “z” to set the pull direction to an axis. Type “w” to set the pull direction to the current window’s view axis.
• Click one of the arcs, then drag the mouse left and right to change the pull direction.
• Click the free rotation handle to rotate freely in all directions.
• Click an existing reference vector to align the manipulator with it.
• Type three numbers to set the rotation values exactly.
• Click the location handle, then drag to move the manipulator in space.

Through the Vector Options in the option box

• Select X, Y, or Z to align the pull direction with that axis
• Select View to align the pull direction normal to the view. Click Refresh View to update the pull direction if the view has been modified.
• Select Picked then specify the name of an existing vector or pick it in the view
• Select Retain Vector to create a vector object from the current pull direction

Set the angle and depth at a point along the draft surface

• Click one of the handles, then drag left or right to change the parameter, or type a number.
• Click the green dotted line to toggle Double Sided on or off. This lets you build a draft surface on each side of the curve.

What if...?

The surface has problems, and shows red dotted lines?

The pull direction is too close to the tangent of the curve indicated by the red dotted line.