Recommended test
Create an arc with spaced uprights and curved rails, then compare it with a continuous sweep.
- Open Manual construction, select Draw run and draw an Arc on Ground/XZ using start, end and bend points.
- Adjust the bend, press Enter to create the run, choose a small rectangular profile with Y orientation and give the members an extrusion length.
- Enable Close frame at both ends and compare Automatic with a custom Round rail profile. Check the Inside and Outside results.
- Switch Profile to Sweep, change the profile angle and start trim in Extrude, then generate and inspect the continuous object.
Open Manual construction in the main toolbar and choose Draw run in its left rail. A construction path locates repeated members or carries a continuous profile. Select an existing run in Construction runs to edit its settings; Draw run prepares a new independent run.
Choose a path
| Path | How to draw it |
|---|---|
| Line | Pick its start and end; use the length input for an exact span. |
| Rectangle | Choose a drawing plane, then pick opposite corners, or pick a first corner and enter width and height. |
| Polyline | Pick successive corners. Use Finish path or Enter for an open path, or Close loop for a perimeter. |
| Arc | Choose a plane and pick start, end and bend points. Drag any of the three handles to adjust it. |
| Spline | Place at least three control points, then use Adjust curve or drag a handle on the dashed control polygon. Use Add more points to extend it. |
Planar paths use Ground/XZ, Front/XY or Side/YZ. Spline control points shape the curve; the curve need not pass through the interior points. Select an arc or spline handle to enter its coordinates and choose Apply coordinates. A spline point can be removed while at least three remain.
During curve adjustment, the outline and handles stay visible. Press Enter or Create run to add the spacing points and member preview. Close loop prepares a closed spline but still waits for confirmation. Undo point or Backspace removes the last point. Escape discards the unfinished drawing.
Opening another tool or selecting an existing run ends drawing. Activate Draw run again when you want to draw another path.
Snap while adjusting a curve
Curves move freely by default, even if Tape Measure uses Grid only. Hold Shift or enable Gentle curve snapping to attract nearby model points, edges and grid intersections. Hold Alt to bypass snapping. This changes drawing and handle movement; it does not change member spacing.
Place members along the path
Open Profile and choose Spaced members. An unset shape starts with a Rectangle; existing profile dimensions are kept. Set the extrusion length in Extrude and spacing on the right.
For rectangles and polylines, CC starts again on each side and Even spacing’s Count applies per side. On rectangles, Offset first/last objects by half width insets the end members on every side. Fixed CC marks remain measured from the drawn corner. Each side then has its own end members; turn the option off to use shared corners. Inspect corner joints before generating.
Arc and spline spacing follows curve length. Members turn along the curve; closed loops avoid a duplicate end member and report the closing gap. The Even spacing row shows the calculated CC. Paths with different side spacing show a range. See spacing and frame closure.
Close a curved frame
For a spaced-member arc or spline, open Close frame and enable A, B or both extrusion ends. Each rail is continuous along the curve; closed paths form complete loops. Choose Automatic, Rectangle or Round under Rail profile. Custom rail dimensions are independent of the upright profile.
Inside shortens the members to fit the rails within the extrusion span. Outside adds rails beyond it. If Inside cannot fit, increase the extrusion, reduce the rail size or use Outside.
Use a profile orientation perpendicular to the drawing plane: Y on XZ, Z on XY or X on YZ. Whole frame rotation and member rotation around the curve tangent work with the rails. Other individual tilts can produce an alignment message; reset those tilts before generating. Member trim and bevel settings do not cut the curved rails.
Sweep one continuous profile
In Profile, choose Sweep beside Spaced members. The profile follows the line, arc, spline or perimeter as one continuous member. Set its dimensions and anchor, then open Extrude for start/end trims, profile angle and Miter or Round corners. Reset sweep restores those sweep settings.
Trimming a closed loop opens it at its start/end. Changes update the green preview automatically. Invalid sweeps cannot generate: reduce the profile, adjust the trims or use a smoother path. Spacing, member trimming and Close frame are inactive for sweeps. Switching back restores the member settings.
Generate and retain your work
Give each run a name, then choose Generate. Sweeps and spaced-member runs can share a batch; each creates its own named group under Custom. Generating again adds another batch. Editing the source run does not reshape previous output.
Generated sweeps are model objects with saved creation settings. Editing their path after generation or treating them as editable Custom Solid sweeps is not supported. Use Custom Solid Sweep for that separate body-modelling workflow.
Closing Manual construction keeps the current runs for the session. Ordinary runs are not a persistent project library; save generated geometry in .strek and see construction runs for Planner snapshots and saved measurement-set boundaries.